The AI-controlled XQ-58A Valkyrie: the perfect wingman for a human fighter pilot

Looking like something out of cult TV show Thunderbirds, the advanced XQ-58A Valkyrie is a leap forward for developing AI and air power.

The high-speed and low-cost Valkyrie unmanned drone has been operational since 2019, and today can act as a wingman to military pilots undertaking a variety of missions.

The US government  wants to substantially expand the role of autonomous jets, using so-called collaborative combat aircraft to support crewed fighters.

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The Valkyrie aircraft is a runway-independent, long-range, unmanned drone.

The machine is designed for agile manoeuvrability and can be used on missions such as surveillance or being part of a drone swarm.

Using advanced technology, the aircraft can employ electronic attack capabilities, autonomously detecting, identifying, and geo-locating multiple targets of interest.

Valkyrie is 30ft long, has a wingspan of 27ft and weighs 2,500lb.

Under its power, the drone has a range of 3,000 nautical miles and can carry a payload of 6,000lb.

The aircraft's developer, Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, isn't alone in its pursuit of such AI-powered machinery.

Boeing has started developing a similar autonomous aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force, called the MQ-28 Ghost Bat.