On October 21, 2025, Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and the U.S. Air Force completed a flight test in which a fifth‑generation F‑22 fighter pilot used a pilot‑vehicle interface (PVI) to issue real‑time flight commands to a General Atomics MQ‑20 Avenger drone while the aircraft was airborne out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The test proved that a manned fighter can serve as a command‑and‑control node for an autonomous aircraft during flight, a first for the F‑22 and a key milestone in human‑machine teaming.
The MQ‑20 Avenger, a high‑altitude, long‑endurance unmanned aircraft, was integrated with the F‑22’s avionics through a PVI that overlays drone flight controls onto the pilot’s existing cockpit displays. L3Harris supplied the datalink and radio systems that enabled secure, low‑latency communication between the fighter and the drone, while General Atomics provided the Avenger platform and flight‑control software. The PVI allowed the pilot to set waypoints, adjust mission parameters, and monitor the drone’s status without leaving the cockpit, demonstrating a seamless interface between manned and unmanned systems.
Strategically, the demonstration aligns with the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which seeks to equip future fighters with the ability to control swarms of “loyal wingman” drones. The F‑22 is positioned as a threshold platform for this integration, and the test validates Lockheed Martin’s “fifth‑generation‑plus” vision of extending the life and capabilities of existing fighters through advanced digital and AI technologies. By proving that a single‑seat aircraft can command multiple unmanned assets, Lockheed Martin is advancing the U.S. military’s goal of deploying autonomous systems in contested environments where GPS and communications may be jammed.
From a business perspective, the test underscores Lockheed Martin’s continued investment in autonomous and AI‑driven capabilities, reinforcing its leadership in defense technology. The demonstration supports the company’s broader strategy to monetize AI and digital transformation across its product lines, positioning it to capture future contracts for CCA and related systems. The successful integration also signals to potential customers that Lockheed Martin can deliver end‑to‑end solutions that combine manned and unmanned platforms, potentially expanding its market share in the growing autonomous weapons segment.
Lockheed Martin’s Vice President and General Manager of Skunk Works, OJ Sanchez, said the effort “represents a breakthrough in air combat capability, where single‑seat aircraft command and control drones with simple and intuitive interfaces in the cockpit.” The quote highlights the operational simplicity and the strategic importance of the technology for future air combat scenarios.
The demonstration fits into a broader competitive landscape that includes other players such as Anduril and General Atomics, all vying to supply the Air Force’s planned procurement of up to 1,000 CCA drones. By validating its technology in a real‑flight environment, Lockheed Martin strengthens its position as a preferred partner for the Air Force’s next‑generation autonomous force structure.
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