F-22 Pilot Remotely Controls Drone Sidekick With Fancy Tablet, Because War Needs More Bluetooth

KEY POINTS

•General Atomics demonstrated drone-human teaming February 2026 at Edwards Air Force Base combining an F-22 and MQ-20 Avenger.
•The F-22 pilot used autonomy software and tactical data links to command the MQ-20 to perform tactical and combat tasks during flight.
•The Air Force considers CCAs like the MQ-20 as cost-effective loyal wingmen designed to augment manned fighters, not replace them.

In a move straight out of a futuristic sci-fi mashup, General Atomics teamed up USAF's iconic F-22 Raptor with the MQ-20 Avenger drone at Edwards AFB earlier in February 2026, letting the pilot command this jet-powered robot sidekick via high-tech autonomy software and tactical data links. The drone, a stand-in for upcoming Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs developed by GA, Anduril, and Northrop Grumman, offers a cheaper, attritable wingman to jet-set alongside the top-tier F-22 stealth fighter and the rumored sixth-gen Boeing F-47. David Alexander, GA’s president, bragged about the drone’s AI making independent tactical calls mid-flight, basically giving pilots a robot buddy who doesn’t complain. The Air Force sees these CCAs not as cannon fodder but as expensive enough to lose but cheap enough not to cry over, unlike the F-35's million-dollar tears. Basically, it’s like having Iron Man’s Jarvis as your co-pilot, except this one flies, fires, and doesn’t eat your snacks.

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F-22 pilots now playing drone overlord with 'government-provided autonomy software' because who needs hands-free coffee when you can tweet commands mid-dogfight?

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