US Firms Unveil Sixth-Gen Jet F-47’s Wingmen Autonomous Drones At The Paris Air Show

At the Paris Air Show in 2025, two leading U.S. defense firms, Anduril Industries and General Atomics, presented full-scale models of their autonomous “loyal wingman” drones. These drones form an integral facet of the Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program and are intended to integrate with the new Boeing-developed sixth-generation F-47 fighter jets that will replace the aging F-22 Raptor.

Drones are named YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A ‘Fury’ by General Atomics and Anduril Industries, respectively. They will be fully combat autonomous, geared towards augmenting the F-47’s capabilities. Their mission profile includes air dominance, battlespace air superiority, air-to-air engagement, and reconnaissance ops, among other diverse functions. Given the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region involving Taiwan, these drones are anticipated to enhance U.S. military presence and influence in a geostrategically critical area. As highlighted by Anduril’s Jackson Lingane, while there is focus on the Indo-Pacific region, the drones could also assist NATO allies in Europe. The new drones are faster and cheaper to use than traditional fighters, giving them a clear advantage. For the U.S., they plan to have these operational by 2029, with production decisions expected a few years earlier in 2026. It is quite clear that there is a tilt towards fully automated aircraft, and as Lingane put it, this was the “biggest bet” the Air Force has made toward unmanned aviation.

The F-47 is expected to outperform earlier planes with an estimated combat radius of over 1,000 nautical miles while also boasting an impressive range of over 700 nautical miles, or roughly 1,296 kilometers. With these claims, there is little doubt that the strategic options available at hand for the U.S. Air Force will greatly expand.

China’s advances into sixth-generation fighter jets demonstrate their intentions of sparring competition alongside America. There will now be even more motivation for developing newer military technology and vehicles. Given how fast robotic warfare technology is advancing, these drones, along with manned bombers, could significantly impact warfare.