YFQ-48A wingman makes first autonomous flight

The YFQ-48A guided unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), created by the American aerospace corporation Northrop Grumman as part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, made its first fully autonomous flight. This was reported by Defense News.

UAV tests, including taxiing, takeoff, flight maneuvers and landing, took place in the Mojave Desert (US state of California).

“Our customers have made it clear that they want autonomous systems that can be implemented faster and cheaper without sacrificing task efficiency. We listened to them,” said Northrop Grumman Vice President and General Manager of Research and Advanced Development Craig Woolston.

Earlier, the publication reported that the French Air Force would test a slave UAV as part of the Hypairion program.