F-22 flew with loyal-wingman MQ-20 drone in mock combat flight

A crewed US Air Force F-22 Raptor flew alongside an uncrewed, jet-powered test drone in a recent demonstration of loyal-wingman teaming. General Atomics said its MQ-20 Avenger, long a stand-in for a future Collaborative Combat Aircraft, flew with the Raptor at Edwards Air Force Base earlier this month.

During the flight the F-22 pilot used government-provided autonomy software and a tactical data link to pass real-time commands to the MQ-20. The drone carried out tactical maneuvers, combat air patrols, and airborne threat-engagement tasks. The demonstration built on a November 2025 test in which an F-22 pilot controlled an MQ-20 with a tablet.

"This demo featured the integration of mission elements and the ability of autonomy to utilize onboard sensors to make independent decisions and execute commands from the F-22," David Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said in a statement.

United States, Edwards Air Force Base

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