In a first, US F-22 pilot commands wingman drone at 50,000 feet

The US Air Force, alongside General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris Technologies, successfully completed a groundbreaking flight test on October 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range, marking the first time an F-22 Raptor pilot commanded an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet at 50,000 feet. This demonstration linked the crewed F-22 with the uncrewed MQ-20 through secure, government-owned datalinks using L3Harris’ BANSHEE tactical datalinks and Lockheed Martin’s open radio architecture. The pilot utilized a tablet-based interface and the F-22’s GRACE mission module to issue commands and receive real-time data, showcasing a major advancement toward open-architecture autonomy and crewed-uncrewed teaming in future air combat. The MQ-20 Avenger, developed by General Atomics since 2009, is a high-speed, low-observable jet designed for contested airspace with a