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DISPATCH 03/26 · 25 Jul 2026
BATTLEPOLICY
Startup to front line. Strategy to consequence.
Tag

loyal-wingman

11 articles
2
dronesPro

Anka-3

Turkey's Anka-3 is a jet-powered flying-wing UCAV in flight testing, designed for low-observable strike, reconnaissance and future manned-unmanned teaming with the Kaan fighter.

3
dronesPro

Kizilelma

The Bayraktar Kizilelma is Baykar's jet-powered combat drone — the self-styled "unmanned fighter" that scored the claimed world-first UCAV beyond-visual-range air-to-air kill in November 2025, entered serial production before any US CCA, and is designed to fly from TCG Anadolu.

4
RussiaPro

Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B

Russia's heavy stealth flying-wing combat drone, built as a Su-57 "loyal wingman." Its defining moment was a humiliation: in October 2024 a Russian fighter shot down its own out-of-control Okhotnik over Ukraine — handing Kyiv the wreckage, Western chips inside and all.

5
EuropePro

Helsing CA-1 Europa

Helsing's AI-piloted combat drone — Europe's bid for sovereign autonomous airpower. One low-observable jet, flown by the Centaur AI pilot, in a strike version (CA-1KA) and an escort-jammer version (CA-1EA) pitched as the European answer to the Growler. Nothing has flown yet.

6
ChinaPro

FH-97A

China's answer to the loyal-wingman race — the FH-97A, a stealthy jet-powered drone meant to fly alongside the J-20 as sensor, shooter, decoy and "missile truck." It looks much like America's XQ-58 Valkyrie; how far past the mockup stage it has flown is the open question.

7
USAPro

YFQ-42A

The U.S. Air Force's prototype uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft from General Atomics — a semi-autonomous loyal wingman designed to team with F-22, F-35 and future fighters, and one of two contenders for the CCA Increment 1 production decision.

8
USAPro

MQ-28 Ghost Bat

Australia’s stealth multirole uncrewed combat aircraft and loyal wingman — the world’s most advanced non-U.S. collaborative combat aircraft program with a funded program of record and a live-fire weapons engagement.

9
USAPro

XQ-58 Valkyrie

The XQ-58 Valkyrie is an attritable, stealthy uncrewed combat aerial vehicle and collaborative combat aircraft demonstrator designed by Kratos, now set to become the US Marine Corps' first operational loyal wingman, with a target fielding date of summer 2029.

10
ChinaPro

GJ-11 Sharp Sword

China's first operational stealth flying-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle — a penetrating strike and ISR platform that demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming with J-20 fighters and is evolving into a carrier-capable naval derivative.