Gremlins in the works

摘要

Development of low-cost attritable aircraft could accelerate in 2020 with the US Congress eyeing at least $100 million in its upcoming budget for the new type of aircraft and the US Air Force (USAF) planning several new experiments. Attritable aircraft are unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) designed with limited lifetimes, that can be affordably manufactured in large numbers and lost to combat attrition because of their low cost. The USAF is experimenting with the concept in a number of roles, including as loyal wingmen to manned fighter aircraft and as air-launched effects, small UAVs launched and recovered from another aircraft.