At the ILA Berlin 2024 exhibition, held in the German capital from 5 to 9 June, Airbus is presenting its new Wingman concept for a fighter-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that will be commanded by a pilot in a manned combat aircraft.
The Wingman UAV would be expected to take on high-risk mission tasks that would pose a bigger threat to manned aircraft, augmenting the capabilities of current manned combat aircraft with uncrewed platforms that can carry weapons and other effectors.
At ILA Airbus is presenting a 1:1 model of the Wingman UAV on static display that will showcase all of the foreseen capabilities required, such as low observability, the integration of various armaments, advanced sensors, connectivity and teaming solutions.
Airbus, cautioned, however, that, as with ‘show cars’ used as a design exercise by the automotive industry, not all of what is on display at ILA may find its way into series production. Rather, the model “will serve as a foundation and catalyst to drive the design requirements for each generation of the Wingman”, Airbus stated in a press release.
“The German Air Force has expressed a clear need for an unmanned aircraft flying with and supporting missions of its manned fighter jets before the Future Combat Air System will be operational in 2040,” Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, was quote as saying. “Our Wingman concept is the answer. We will further drive and fine-tune this innovation made in Germany so that ultimateley we can offer the German Air Force an affordable solution with the performance it needs to maximise the effects and multiply the power of its fighter fleet for the 2030s.”
The Wingman’s tasks can range from reconnaissance to jamming targets and engaging targets on the ground or in the air with precision-guided munitions or missiles.
“Pilots in manned aircraft acting as ‘command fighters’ will always have control of the mission,” Airbus asserted. “They are always the final decision-making authority, while benefiting from the protection and smaller risk exposure that the delegation of tactical taskings to unmanned systems offers. An additional focus is on increasing the overall combat mass in an affordable manner so that air forces can match the number of opposing forces [of] peers or near-peers in conflicts.”
