GA-ASI and U.S. Air Force Demonstrate Advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming With MQ-20 Avenger and F-35 in Joint Autonomy Exercise

SAN DIEGO - 27 May 2026 - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the F-35 Joint Program Office, 309th Software Engineering Group, 461st Flight Test Squadron, 370th Flight Test Squadron, Lockheed Martin, and Autonodyne recently collaborated on a flight test that demonstrated advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming. The test paired an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet with a GA-ASI Collaborative Combat Aircraft surrogate (MQ-20 Avenger^®), highlighting the future of collaborative air combat missions.

The MQ-20 was equipped with GA-ASI's TacACE^® (Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem) software, which is based on the latest government reference autonomy software architecture. The demonstration further proved the CCA surrogate and F-35's ability to use a tactical proliferated low Earth orbit data link to accomplish seamless coordination.

The demonstration utilized Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications between an airborne MQ-20 and an F-35 on the ground, enabling the F-35 pilot to send tactical autonomy commands via a tablet in the cockpit. These commands were relayed to the MQ-20's TacACE, leveraging skills based on the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA), enabling rapid integration.

GA-ASI continues developing and testing the most capable and mission-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in the world.

"This significant warfighter integration milestone is the beginning of operational readiness for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and demonstrates the near-term opportunities for force integration," said Michael Atwood, vice president of Advanced Programs. "Events like these drive home GA-ASI's continued commitment to adoption of next-generation data links, mission autonomy, and unmanned air combat operations."

Manned-Unmanned Teaming - the pairing of human-flown warplanes with large numbers of highly autonomous wingmen - is the future of airpower. The recent F-35 and MQ-20 demonstration validated the hardware, software, networks, and other systems needed for this new chapter in combat. The MQ-20 successfully exchanged critical autonomous responses with the F-35, and the F-35 was able to send autonomy commands to the MQ-20 via a Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface, directing the MQ-20 to execute tactical maneuvers, adjust waypoints, and pass ADS-B track data to the F-35.

GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet has served as a surrogate CCA for more than five years, both before and since the arrival of GA-ASI's purpose-built XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station and YFQ-42A jets.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator^® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper^®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle^®, MQ-20 Avenger^®, MQ-9B SkyGuardian^®/SeaGuardian^®, XQ-67A, and YFQ-42A. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.

For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com

Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.