Skyborg Archives

An artist’s rendering of networked, collaborative and autonomous weapons, with each communicating with the others. (U.S. Air Force illustration/Chris Quinlan)

Air Force positions autonomous drones, networked weapon systems as top priorities

The Air Force is asking Congress for more than $100 million in additional R&D funding for autonomous drones and networked weapon systems.

Apr 12, 2022 By Jon Harper

The Air Force Research Laboratory and Kratos Defense; Security Solutions, Inc., completed the successful fourth flight of the XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator, a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle, at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, on Jan. 23, 2020. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Air Force can now deploy drones from other drones

The Air Force Research Lab successfully launched a small unmanned system from a larger drone mid-flight, the lab said.

Apr 12, 2021 By Jackson Barnett

Air Force adds more tech companies to Skyborg program

Skyborg now has 13 vendors competing for slices of a $400 million contract to build out a network of autonomous drones to follow piloted planes.

Oct 2, 2020 By Jackson Barnett

Air Force selects pool for $400M ‘Skyborg’ contract for autonomous drone systems

Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Kratos Defense and Northrop Grumman all will be able to vie for work on the highly networked technology.

Jul 28, 2020 By Jackson Barnett

drone, uav, uas, unmanned, artificial intelligence — (Getty Images) UAV with camera.

Air Force launches search for AI-enabled ‘Skyborg’ drones

The Skyborg program is now seeking contractors to develop unmanned systems to team with fighter jets.

May 20, 2020 By Jackson Barnett

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — United States Air Force Academy Cadets in the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Program conduct various mock scenarios, Tuesday March 5th, 2019, in the Air Operations Center’s “Reaper Room” using a MQ-9 flight simulator allowing one operator to control multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which can autonomously search, find, identify, and track various targets worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joshua Armstrong)

With Air Force’s Skyborg, autonomous drones could be coming soon

Skyborg will be an "autonomous unmanned air combat vehicle system" with open artificial intelligence software architecture and modular hardware.

Mar 26, 2019 By Billy Mitchell