Overview
- General Atomics disclosed that on Oct. 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range an F-22 pilot directed an MQ-20 Avenger in flight in a company-funded demonstration conducted with Lockheed Martin and L3Harris.
- Control was executed from the cockpit via a Pilot Vehicle Interface tablet and the F-22’s GRACE module over L3Harris BANSHEE datalinks and Pantera software-defined radios integrated through Lockheed’s open radio architectures.
- The companies emphasized non‑proprietary, U.S. government‑owned communications and reuse of flown hardware consistent with Open Mission Systems objectives.
- The event served as a CCA surrogate test as the Air Force designates the F-22 the threshold platform for initial integration, with GA-ASI and Anduril having flown Increment 1 prototypes and production awards slated for 2026.
- InsideDefense reported the Air Force sought about $15 million in FY26 to begin procuring tablet-based control kits for F-22s, and several outlets framed the milestone within a growing U.S.–China race to field manned‑unmanned teams.