On a clear autumn day over the Nevada Test and Training Range, a pilot seated in the cockpit of an F-22 Raptor reached for a tablet and took direct command of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle flying nearby. The scene, which unfolded on October 21, 2025, was not a science-fiction exercise but a live demonstration that the U.S. Air Force's vision of manned-unmanned teaming is moving from concept to reality.
The flight marked a first for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort: an F-22 pilot successfully controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger drone during an actual flight, using a tablet for command and control. The demonstration was announced by MQ-20 manufacturer General Atomics in a press release, with the company confirming that the test involved close cooperation with Lockheed Martin, the builder of the F-22, and defense contractor L3Harris.
The significance of the event extends beyond the technical achievement itself. For years, the U.S. Air Force has articulated a future force structure in which manned fighter aircraft operate alongside semi-autonomous drone wingmen, with the human pilot retaining ultimate authority over the unmanned platforms. The October demonstration is the first known instance of an F-22 pilot exercising that authority in flight over a combat drone, according to General Atomics.
The test flight occurred at the Nevada Test and Training Range, a sprawling military installation north of Las Vegas that has long served as a proving ground for advanced air combat tactics and systems. The range's vast airspace and sophisticated instrumentation make it an ideal venue for testing the kinds of complex, multi-platform operations that the CCA program envisions.
What makes the demonstration particularly notable is the command-and-control architecture employed. Rather than relying on a ground-based operator or a dedicated mission control station, the F-22 pilot used a tablet device to issue commands to the MQ-20. This approach reflects a broader trend in military aviation toward simplifying the human-machine interface and reducing the cognitive burden on pilots who must manage both their own aircraft and a team of unmanned companions.
The October 21 flight was not an isolated event. General Atomics has indicated that the test is one of several planned under the company's internal research and development efforts. The company has been flying the MQ-20 as an integration test article for its CCA-related work, using the proven Avenger airframe to validate technologies and concepts that will eventually be applied to purpose-built drone wingmen.
The demonstration also builds on earlier work. In a previous flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California, an F-22 pilot used a different interface—the Bashi pilot-vehicle interface developed by Autonodyne—to direct an MQ-20 to execute tactical maneuvers, adjust waypoints, conduct combat patrols, and take on threat engagement tasks. That earlier test, conducted in November, followed a demonstration in which an F-22 pilot used a tablet to control an MQ-20 via L3Harris datalinks and software radios integrated with Lockheed Martin's open radio architectures.
The progression from ground-based control to cockpit-based command reflects the Air Force's stated goal of making drone wingmen an integral part of manned fighter operations, rather than a separate category of aircraft requiring dedicated operators.
Product and availability details
The MQ-20 Avenger, the platform used in the October demonstration, is a jet-powered unmanned aircraft system that has been in service with the U.S. military and allied forces for years. Originally developed as a hunter-killer platform capable of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions, the Avenger has increasingly been used as a testbed for autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies.
General Atomics has positioned the MQ-20 as an integration test article for its CCA-related work. The company is currently on contract for the first round of the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, alongside defense firm Anduril. For the actual competition, General Atomics has formally offered its YFQ-42A unmanned aircraft, a purpose-built drone wingman designed from the ground up for the CCA mission.
The YFQ-42A has recently been given a name: "Dark Merlin." General Atomics announced the designation in a separate statement, explaining that the name references deadly falcons and "the wizardry of Merlin from Arthurian legend." The naming convention is a departure from the more utilitarian designations typically used for military aircraft, suggesting that the company is investing in the YFQ-42A's identity as a distinct product line.
The autonomy software that will govern the YFQ-42A's behavior is being developed separately. RTX and Shield AI are under contract for the drone wingmen's autonomy suites, according to previous reporting. General Atomics has also logged a semi-autonomous flight on its YFQ-42 drone wingman with RTX Collins' autonomy software onboard, indicating that the autonomy stack is being tested in parallel with the airframe development.
The October 21 demonstration was company-funded, according to General Atomics. This is a notable detail, as it suggests that the company is investing its own resources to mature the technologies and concepts that will be required for the CCA program to succeed. The involvement of Lockheed Martin and L3Harris in the demonstration also underscores the collaborative nature of the effort, with multiple defense contractors contributing their respective expertise to the project.
Lockheed Martin's role in the demonstration was to provide the F-22 platform and its associated systems, including the open radio architectures that enabled the tablet-based command and control. L3Harris contributed datalinks and software radios that facilitated the communication between the F-22 and the MQ-20. The integration of these systems was a key technical challenge, as the F-22 was not originally designed to control unmanned aircraft.
The demonstration at the Nevada Test and Training Range is one of several flights planned under General Atomics' internal research and development program. The company has not disclosed the full scope of its test campaign, but the October flight represents a significant milestone in the maturation of the technologies required for manned-unmanned teaming.
For the broader CCA program, the demonstration provides evidence that the concept of operations is feasible with current or near-term technology. The Air Force has articulated a vision in which manned fighters operate drone wingmen in a variety of missions, including suppression of enemy air defenses, electronic warfare, and strike operations. The ability of an F-22 pilot to control an MQ-20 from the cockpit is a step toward realizing that vision.
What it means for buyers
For defense planners and procurement officials, the October demonstration carries several implications. First, it validates the feasibility of cockpit-based command and control for drone wingmen, at least in the context of a demonstration flight. The use of a tablet as the primary interface suggests that the human-machine interface for CCA operations may be simpler and more intuitive than some had anticipated.
Second, the demonstration highlights the importance of open architectures and interoperability. The successful integration of L3Harris datalinks and software radios with Lockheed Martin's open radio architectures was a critical enabler of the demonstration. This approach, which General Atomics has described as avoiding vendor lock and enabling rapid iteration, is likely to be a key requirement for future CCA systems.
Third, the demonstration underscores the competitive dynamics of the CCA program. General Atomics and Anduril are on contract for the first round of the program, while RTX and Shield AI are developing the autonomy suites. The October flight gives General Atomics a data point to cite in its efforts to win the production contract, as it demonstrates the company's ability to integrate its airframe with third-party autonomy and communication systems.
For international buyers, the demonstration may have broader implications. Many allied air forces operate or are acquiring F-35s and other fifth-generation fighters, and the concept of manned-unmanned teaming is likely to be a key differentiator in future air combat. The ability of a manned fighter to control a drone wingman from the cockpit could be a significant capability for air forces that are considering how to expand their combat mass without proportional increases in pilot training and personnel costs.
However, several details remain undisclosed. General Atomics has not specified the exact nature of the commands issued by the F-22 pilot during the October flight, nor has it detailed the latency, reliability, or security characteristics of the tablet-based command-and-control link. The company has also not disclosed the cost of the demonstration or the projected unit cost of the YFQ-42A. These details will be important for buyers as they evaluate the operational and financial implications of adopting CCA technology.
The demonstration also raises questions about the integration of CCA systems with existing force structures. The F-22 is a highly specialized air superiority fighter, and its integration with drone wingmen may require modifications to the aircraft's avionics and communication systems. Lockheed Martin's involvement in the demonstration suggests that such modifications are feasible, but the scope and cost of these changes have not been disclosed.
For the U.S. Air Force, the demonstration is a data point in a broader program of record. The CCA program envisions a family of systems, with different drone types optimized for different missions. General Atomics' YFQ-42A is one candidate for the production contract, but the program is still in its early stages. Northrop Grumman, for example, plans a first flight for its drone wingman this year, indicating that the competitive landscape remains fluid.
The demonstration also has implications for the broader defense industrial base. The involvement of multiple contractors—General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, RTX, and Shield AI—in various aspects of the CCA program reflects a deliberate strategy to foster competition and avoid reliance on a single vendor. This approach, which General Atomics has described as avoiding vendor lock, is intended to enable rapid iteration and ensure interoperability across platforms.
For buyers, the key takeaway from the October demonstration is that manned-unmanned teaming is moving from the realm of concept to the realm of demonstrated capability. The flight at the Nevada Test and Training Range provides evidence that an F-22 pilot can control a combat drone using a tablet, and that the necessary communication and autonomy systems can be integrated with existing aircraft. While many details remain undisclosed, the demonstration represents a significant step toward the operational deployment of drone wingmen.
As the CCA program progresses, buyers will be watching for additional data points, including the results of the YFQ-42A's semi-autonomous flights, the first flight of Northrop's drone wingman, and the ongoing development of autonomy software by RTX and Shield AI. The October demonstration is an important milestone, but it is not the final word on the future of manned-unmanned teaming.
Sources
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/11/pilot-f-22-just-controlled-drone-wingman-flight/409586/?oref=d1-featured-river-top
Published by Robot Service Map.