Japan wants its own Loyal Wingman Program

The US has been working on a system to convert 4th gen fighters into drones to fly along side the 5th (and possibly) 6th gen fighters. This would allow the US to increase its fighter fleet without needing to buy as many expensive fighters as well as develop the guts for more advanced A2A and A2S UCAVs before touching the airframe. Its kinda sneaky cool as a way to get it past the Congressional gates.

Well, it seems Japan has come to the same conclusion as the US: manned fighters will need to have unmanned wingmen. Rather than converting the existing birds (which they have less of) they are launching their 'Combat Support Unmanned Aircraft' program.

warisboring.com...

I like how you brought this up. But, prepare for major false flag attacks. Anyone remember Canadian jets not following order in bombing mission against Libya? Think again and get shot down by your own unmanned mates.

www.ctvnews.ca...

Also back then in WW2 if you don't suicide bomb(Japan) you get shot down by your own commander.

originally posted by: anzha
The US has been working on a system to convert 4th gen fighters into drones to fly along side the 5th (and possibly) 6th gen fighters. This would allow the US to increase its fighter fleet without needing to buy as many expensive fighters as well as develop the guts for more advanced A2A and A2S UCAVs before touching the airframe. Its kinda sneaky cool as a way to get it past the Congressional gates.

Well, it seems Japan has come to the same conclusion as the US: manned fighters will need to have unmanned wingmen. Rather than converting the existing birds (which they have less of) they are launching their 'Combat Support Unmanned Aircraft' program.

warisboring.com...

I totally see how dronifing an F-16 (etc) is easy But would n't a nonstealth loyal wing give away the location of the f-35. As a missle truck working at a distance or in a offset position, perhaps it would be effective.

a reply to: SmilingROB

No, because it won't need to stay close to the control aircraft. The controller will designate targets and direct the wingman aircraft to attack it. Thru can be anywhere within datalink range, which means within several hundred miles of the controller.

originally posted by: SmilingROB

originally posted by: anzha
The US has been working on a system to convert 4th gen fighters into drones to fly along side the 5th (and possibly) 6th gen fighters. This would allow the US to increase its fighter fleet without needing to buy as many expensive fighters as well as develop the guts for more advanced A2A and A2S UCAVs before touching the airframe. Its kinda sneaky cool as a way to get it past the Congressional gates.

Well, it seems Japan has come to the same conclusion as the US: manned fighters will need to have unmanned wingmen. Rather than converting the existing birds (which they have less of) they are launching their 'Combat Support Unmanned Aircraft' program.

warisboring.com...

I totally see how dronifing an F-16 (etc) is easy But would n't a nonstealth loyal wing give away the location of the f-35. As a missle truck working at a distance or in a offset position, perhaps it would be effective.

Also once the 35 has performed it's opening magic act, the wingmen could join at destroy the rest of the infrastructure whilst f35 no.2 is performing it's stealth magic in the air defences further in, rinse and repeat and you get some pretty efficient destruction corridors to start driving in a wedge on the ground.