US Navy plans for 'Air Wing of the Future' with next-generation, pilotless carrier-based 1,150-mile-range drones to fly alongside manned aircraft

Date:
Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Description:
The US Navy wants autonomous carrier drones capable of eight missions, 1,150-mile ranges, and operations alongside advanced manned aircraft.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Pentagon eyes swarms of cheap drones over a handful of expensive fighter jets Carrier decks may soon be crowded with robots doing eight different combat jobs US Navy next fighter wing could fly itself from takeoff to target and back The US Navy has issued
a Request for Information (RFI) seeking a new family of carrier-based drones which would operate alongside manned aircraft while supporting missions
across the full range of naval combat operations.

The service wants these systems to fly from Ford-class and Nimitz-class nuclear carriers, while some designs could operate from smaller vessels. Its requirements seeking industry proposals for platforms capable of eight missions, including attacks against ships and land targets, anti-submarine warfare, air combat, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Navy seeks autonomous aircraft for eight missions The aircraft would also support aerial refuelling and resupply missions for naval task forces, creating a broad set of requirements for a single aircraft or connected family of systems.

Strike variants must have a minimum range of 1,000 nautical miles, equivalent to roughly 1,150 miles. You may like Unmanned U.S. Navy MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone completes its maiden test flight USAF wants to replace $30 million MQ-9 Reaper drones with cheaper UAVs after "dozens" were lost in Iran, costing taxpayers billions New $5 laser system could protect US Navy ships from drone swarms

The service also wants advanced autonomy for carrier operations, mission changes and threat avoidance during flight.

Proposed systems must support automated aerial refuelling and remain compatible with existing unmanned aircraft control systems. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
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The Navy is seeking affordable mass, risk-tolerant platforms capable of addressing current and emerging threats, which points toward affordable aircraft designed to be produced in larger numbers than traditional high-cost combat jets. Future carrier wings could rely on scalable drone fleets The RFI asks companies to explain how their production methods could expand rapidly during a surge while keeping recurring flight and sustainment costs within sustainable limits.

Manufacturers must also describe ways to reduce maintenance demands and use existing naval supply networks. What to read next USAF's Autonomous AI
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Pentagon moves to its next phase

The Navy is also open to aircraft that can operate from platforms beyond its largest carriers - vertical-takeoff and landing UAVs could fly from destroyers, expeditionary sea bases and other vessels with suitable aviation facilities.

The Navy is interested in novel concepts that can operate from any
air-capable platform, the RFI states, including destroyers and mobile sea bases.

This could give naval commanders more options for deploying autonomous aircraft across different maritime environments.

The Air Wing of the Future Family of Systems forms part of the Trump administrations Golden Fleet expansion plan.

Existing related programmes include the MQ-25A Stingray tanker and Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative.

The RFI also asks companies to explain planned capital investments and internal research commitments needed to mature their designs.

The Navys requirements suggest that future carrier aviation could combine advanced manned aircraft with larger fleets of autonomous systems designed
for scale and operational risk tolerance.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/u-s-navy-plans-for-air-wing-of-the-future-with-n ext-generation-pilotless-carrier-based-1-150-mile-range-drones-to-fly-alongsid e-manned-aircraft


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