USAF Achieves Breakthrough: F-22 Controls Autonomous MQ-20 Drone in Mid-Air Exercise
The US Air Force has achieved a significant milestone in aerial warfare by demonstrating, for the first time, mid-flight control of an autonomous drone by the iconic… 
The US Air Force has achieved a significant milestone in aerial warfare by demonstrating, for the first time, mid-flight control of an autonomous drone by the iconic F-22 Raptor fifth-generation fighter jet. This groundbreaking test occurred over Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, California, under clear skies, as detailed in a press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) on February 23, 2026.
The demonstration highlighted Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), a concept where a human-piloted aircraft collaborates seamlessly with unmanned systems to enhance mission effectiveness, survivability, and lethality. In this exercise, the F-22 served…
