Airbus Presents Wingman:New Unmanned Fighter Jet Escort Concept

Airbus will be presenting their new Wingman concept at the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin from June 5-9. With a static display of a full-scale model, the concept is for a fighter-type unmanned aerial platform to support and protect a flight leader as a “wingman”. It would be controlled by another pilot in a current combat aircraft.

According to Airbus, the Wingman is designed to augment the capabilities of current manned combat aircraft with armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can also carry other effectors.

“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,” said CEO of Airbus Defence and Space Michael Schoellhorn. Our Wingman concept is the answer. We will further drive and fine-tune this innovation made in Germany so that ultimately 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”, an Airbus statement read.

The Wingman can carry out reconnaissance, jam targets and engage ground or air targets with precision guided ordnance as well as missiles. -shp/adj/dl (Pix:Airbus)