Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and industry collaborators, has achieved a milestone by controlling an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) from the cockpit of a fifth-generation fighter jet during flight at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
An F-22 Raptor pilot utilized an open interface within the aircraft's cockpit to send commands to another airborne drone. According to OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, "This effort represents Skunk Works driving a breakthrough in air combat capability, where single-seat aircraft command and control drones with simple and intuitive interfaces in the cockpit."
The demonstration involved the pilot using a pilot vehicle interface (PVI) to direct the drone through a specific mission profile. The PVI is designed as a flexible system that can be integrated into both current and future platforms.
Lockheed Martin stated that this event highlights advancements in human-machine teaming capabilities, reflecting ongoing efforts to integrate autonomous and AI-enabled operations across crewed and uncrewed systems. The company has placed particular emphasis on connecting autonomous drones with platforms such as the F-22 and F-35.
The recent flight test is part of broader evaluations supporting the Air Force's vision for a family of systems approach. The company noted that human-machine teaming can improve situational awareness, interoperability, survivability, and flexibility for U.S. warfighters. "By integrating the F-22 with other advanced systems we're bolstering the capabilities of our warfighters, ensuring American airpower dominance," Lockheed Martin said.
OJ Sanchez added that Lockheed Martin’s proactive work on building, testing, and improving fifth-generation teaming capabilities keeps it at the forefront of innovation.
Lockheed Martin describes itself as a global defense technology company focused on delivering mission solutions across all domains and advancing technologies for national security. More information about their work is available at Lockheedmartin.com.
For further details, Shane Nicholson can be contacted at 817-653-5918 or shane.m.nicholson@lmco.com.
