UAV 'assistant' successfully points out target for F-35 in new test
Oct 24, 2024
Washington [US], October 24: The US Marine Corps has just announced that it has completed testing the XQ-58A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fly alongside the F-35 fighter.
Business Insider reported on October 24 that the US Marine Corps held an exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida earlier this month, including plans to deploy the XQ-58A Valkyrie UAV to assist in detecting and transmitting target data to F-35 fighters.
The Marine Corps said the XQ-58A "has demonstrated its sensor capabilities, providing critical data to assist the fifth-generation fighter in identifying targets and quickly completing a kill plan. This is the fourth test of this UAV.
The XG-58A Valkyrie is an experimental stealth UAV whose primary mission is to gather data and reconnaissance information for its partner aircraft. In traditional air combat, fighters typically work in pairs, with one aircraft serving as the primary aircraft and the other as a "wingman."
The new UAV is also known as a "loyal assistant", with autonomous capabilities thanks to artificial intelligence . The US Marine Corps said that during combat, the Valkyrie UAV coordinates with the F-35B and other aircraft, along with ground forces to update information via a digital platform.
The XG-58A Valkyrie UAV, manufactured by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (USA), is considered to be able to improve the combat capabilities of the F-35 fighter , the main fighter of the US military. The Marine Corps has ordered two of these UAVs under the 2022 procurement program.
UAVs are increasingly showing their position on the battlefield and are assessed by military experts to be able to change the way of fighting in the future. Currently, many UAVs have been deployed to carry out attacks in conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation
