The unmanned aircraft, which use artificial intelligence to fly alongside manned combat jets, is seen by some as crucial to future wars.
The new technology that allows military drones to fly alongside manned warplanes has emerged as a rare area of corporate investment for Boeing’s defence business amid company-wide cost-cutting initiatives designed to stabilise its commercial jetliner division.
Boeing officials have announced that an AI-equipped UAV is under development for the Australian military, and has flown for the first time. Executives see these loyal wingman drones as an untapped market with lots of potentials.
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Australian government officials have purchased six unmanned aircraft as part of their Airpower Teaming System project. In December, U.S. Air Force experts awarded Boeing, Kratos, and General Atomics contracts to build prototypes for their own Skyborg project.
Still, some have questioned just how dedicated the Air Force is to the project, which will compete for funding with expensive fighter jets, bombers, and aerial tankers amid an expected decline in defence spending.
