Robotic Wingmen From Space

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The United States Air Force may one day utilize the secretive X-37 Space Plane to connect and share information with the force’s fighter jets. The Air Force is utilizing its platforms and thinking of new ways to integrate its many assets to optimize the force’s capabilities.

General David Goldfein, the United States Air Force Chief of Staff, has recently mentioned that he would be interested in seeing how the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would interact with the X-37 space plane, which has recently returned to Earth after staying 780 days in orbit.

The Air Force has already been at work testing drones, such as the X-47B,  as robotic wingmen for fighter pilots in the air. However not many people have expected that a possible robotic wingmen may be a literal spacecraft.

The American Air Force claims that the X-37B explores the practicalities and risks of reusable space vehicles. This vague description doesn’t mention much, but it also does not cancel out the possibility of having a spacecraft assist military pilots.

Connecting fighter jets with the X-37B will strengthen the Air Force and U.S. military in such a way that they will be able to “operate in all domains”. 

The spacecraft will be able to share information with fighters during wartime operations. However, Air Force officials have made no word regarding as to what payloads or sensors the X-37B would utilize.

Such an effort is part of the Department of Defense’s larger goal to have information more readily available to its soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines, according to Military.com. This is by no means a new concept to the military, however the Defense Department has been searching for ways to relay information faster and more efficiently.

“Such initiatives give the Air Force a chance to modernize,” an Air Force official noted. “We want people to make smart choices regardless of where they are.”