The F-35 Could Be 'Pilot Optional' in the Not-Too-Distant Future, Lockheed Martin CEO Says

The F-35 could be 'pilot optional' in the not-too-distant future, Lockheed Martin CEO says

Lockheed Martin's CEO said the company is working on advanced upgrades to the F-35, which would allow it to fly without a pilot.US Air Force photo by Capt. Nathan PobleteLockheed Martin's CEO announced plans for an uncrewed F-35.The F-35 and F-22 will gain next-gen stealth, electronic warfare, and weapons improvements, he said.The US Air Force wants uncrewed aircraft to support piloted ones and add mass to its force.Lockheed Martin is developing…

Last March, the manufacturer Lockheed Martin lost the competition for the contract to develop the sixth-generation fighters against Boeing and its future F-47. Jim Taiclet, CEO of Lockheed Martin, then said he would upgrade the F-35 Lightning II with sixth-generation technologies to make it a ‘Ferrari’ between fighter planes and at a lower cost than the F-47 will have. They have now transcended new details about the update of the F-35 Lightning …

Lockheed Martin explores optionally manned capability for F-35 in future upgrade

Chief Executive Officer Jim Taiclet shared the vision during the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. He highlighted possible new features, including radar- and infrared-absorbing stealth coatings and the introduction of an unmanned mode of operation. “We could make the F-35 pilot optional over a relatively modest time frame based on a lot of the development we’ve done,” said Taiclet. “The kinds of technologies we’re speaking about are coat…

Sixth generation technologies could be introduced into existing fleets.

F-35 autonomy proposal emerges amid Musk critique – Monkey Viral

Lockheed Martin is exploring the possibility of transforming the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter into an optionally manned platform, as part of what the company is calling a “fifth-generation-plus” capability upgrade. Speaking at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, CEO Jim Taiclet outlined a vision for new enhancements to the world’s most advanced stealth fighter, including radar

What We Just Learned A More Advanced "Ferrari" F-35 Could Include

Pilot-optional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters could be coming in the future as Lockheed Martin looks for ways to ensure the jets remain relevant for decades to come. Technology from the company’s unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) sixth-generation fighter competition, along with new coatings and other modifications, could also go into what it has previously called a “Ferrari” or “NASCAR upgrade” to the F-3…