Washington, DC, November 18 - In a groundbreaking demonstration of manned-unmanned teaming, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot successfully controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger drone directly from the stealth fighter’s cockpit during a high-intensity mock combat mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The exercise, conducted in late October 2025 under the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, marked the first time an operational fifth-generation fighter directed an attritable unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) in real time while engaged in simulated beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range dogfights against adversary aircraft.
The pilot, flying callsign “Razor,” used the F-22’s existing cockpit displays and a secure low-latency datalink to task the MQ-20 with offensive and defensive roles without ever leaving the Raptor. The drone executed autonomous beyond-visual-range missile shots with AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs, performed electronic warfare jamming, acted as a forward sensor node for the F-22’s stealthy radar, and even drew simulated enemy fire to protect the manned fighter. Voice commands and touchscreen menus allowed the pilot to switch the MQ-20 between “loyal wingman,” “missile truck,” and “decoy” modes in seconds, proving the concept of a single human overseeing multiple semi-autonomous assets in contested airspace.
Test directors confirmed the MQ-20 achieved a 12:1 kill ratio against red-air aggressors while the F-22 remained undetected throughout most engagements. The drone’s artificial intelligence routines handled low-level flight tasks and collision avoidance, freeing the pilot to focus on tactics rather than stick-and-rudder inputs for the unmanned platform. Latency between the F-22 and MQ-20 stayed under 80 milliseconds even during high-G maneuvers, thanks to new directional L-band and Ku-band links hardened against jamming.
This successful integration of F-22 pilot controls with the MQ-20 drone signals a revolutionary shift toward sixth-generation air combat, where stealth fighters will lead packs of low-cost, expendable Collaborative Combat Aircraft into battle. The Air Force plans to expand testing in 2026 with multiple CCAs per manned aircraft, paving the way for operational deployment by the end of the decade and ensuring American air dominance against near-peer adversaries.