Using a touchscreen pilot interface, a human “battle manager” in the cockpit of a flying aircraft gave real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft.
Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin’s secretive advanced projects division, along with its Demonstrations and Prototypes team and the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Lab (OPL), recently pulled off a crewed-uncrewed teaming mission. A human “battle manager” in the cockpit of an airborne aircraft used a touchscreen interface to issue real-time commands to AI-controlled planes.
During flight tests, the teams simulated an air combat mission: the human battle manager aboard an L-39 Albatros assigned targets to two AI-powered L-29 Delfin jets. The AI-controlled jets worked together to take on two mock enemy planes, using virtual mission systems and weapons to carry out the task.
John Clark, head of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, said:
“This work with the University of Iowa’s OPL is laying the groundwork for the future of air combat, where manned and unmanned systems will team up for complex missions. It’s exciting to bring together so many talents to push the boundaries of this new approach.”
These tests build on earlier trials that focused on AI handling tasks like air-to-ground jamming and locating targets. This time, the focus shifted to air-to-air combat, where AI directly controls the planes via their autopilot systems. It’s the third test of its kind but the first with a human overseeing the AI in real time.
Skunk Works is focused on developing systems where humans and AI-driven aircraft can team up, improving mission flexibility, speeding up decision-making, and enhancing pilot safety.
Remarkably, the two L-29 Delfin jets involved in the tests were probably the same two nearly 60-year-old aircraft, deployed to Edwards Air Force Base earlier this year to support United States Air Force Test Pilot School’s activities and gather data for ongoing research in machine learning and autonomy.
As we reported in detail last month, the OPL L-29 Delfin jets, originally designed in the late 1950s (the first flight of the type dates back to Apr. 5, 1959), have undergone significant modifications to serve modern testing needs. Equipped with advanced displays, experimental datalinks, and a range of sensors, these aircraft act as flying laboratories capable of rapid data acquisition and analysis.
Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming
The concept of crewed-uncrewed teaming and the role of AI in advancing air combat tactics is a recurring topic that we have often talked about here at The Aviationist. Many articles highlighted the significant progress made in integrating autonomous systems with human-piloted aircraft to enhance mission success and operational flexibility.
The “Loyal Wingman” concept typically involves unmanned or autonomous aircraft that operate as supportive, AI-driven wingmen to human-piloted aircraft, executing missions and tasks in close coordination with their human counterparts. In more recent parlance, the preferred concept is CCA (Cooperative Combat Aircraft), that represents a highly integrated, cooperative approach to air combat, where multiple crewed and uncrewed aircraft work together as part of a cohesive system, often with the AI-driven assets performing complex missions alongside human operators. In more general terms, the term MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) is still used to refer to various types of manned and unmanned systems working together, with flexibility in mission and operation.
The scenario of the recent test, where a “battle manager” in the cockpit used a touchscreen interface to command AI-controlled aircraft, aligns with the Loyal Wingman concept: the idea is to integrate AI-driven systems (the Loyal Wingman aircraft) with human piloted platforms, where the AI systems can carry out assigned tasks, such as surveillance, combat, or tactical operations, under the guidance of the human operator. This enhances mission flexibility, reduces risk to human pilots, and improves the overall effectiveness of the mission by leveraging AI for faster decision-making.
Recently, we have reported on how Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is a driving force in the integration of CCAs with crewed platforms. These CCAs act as “autonomous wingmen,” providing capabilities like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and even direct engagement with enemy targets.
“Using CCAs as a force multiplier, manned aircraft are able to effectively operate as a much larger force than they already are. The unmanned platforms can be used as simple ‘missile trucks’, allowing for a greater payload to be carried into the battlespace, or more advanced programming could allow for the drones to operate further away from their control aircraft and extend the force’s situational awareness and engagement ranges. Electronic warfare packages could also be carried to allow CCAs to act as decoys without placing additional risk to human pilots.
The NGAD, considered a replacement for the F-22, is usually described as a ‘family of systems,’ including the crewed aircraft; autonomous, unmanned ‘wingmen’ drones for ISR, decoy or strike missions, and other disaggregated capabilities. Called CCAs (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) in U.S. parlance, these drones are considered part of the family of systems.”
This shift is seen as essential for adapting to modern combat requirements, where threats evolve rapidly, requiring advanced coordination between AI-driven platforms and human operators. The article notes:
“Called a ‘family of systems,’ the NGAD emphasizes operational agility and adaptability. Autonomous drones and AI systems are central to this strategy, where collaboration between human pilots and AI is designed to outpace the decision-making speed of adversaries.”
Another article dives deeper into the application of AI in tactical scenarios, particularly in air-to-air combat. It describes how AI enables autonomous aircraft to handle dynamic mission objectives, such as engaging multiple threats while responding to real-time changes in the battlefield.
“AI-driven systems reduce pilot risk while allowing for faster decisions on the battlefield. The technology enables drones to carry out maneuvers and engage targets without waiting for human commands, while still leaving ultimate control in the hands of the human pilot.”
The adaptability of these systems is further emphasized, particularly their ability to work seamlessly in contested environments.
Anyway, it’s interesting to observe how these innovations are now being tested and refined to ensure operational readiness in the future, with a strong focus on minimizing human risk while optimizing mission outcomes.
H/T to our friend Ryan Chan for the heads-up!
