US Military Wants to Put an R2-D2 On Combat Jets to Control Robotic Wingmen

The US military is working on a new artificial intelligence to help pilots and fly robotic wingmen for the USAF. Its name is Skyborg — and while it doesn’t have the physical form of the beloved astromech android from Star Wars, it will work as R2-D2 in the films.

Credit: Kratos Defense/USAF

(Image credit: Kratos Defense/USAF)

It all started last year, when the US Air Force revealed plans to speed up its artificial intelligence programs. One of them was the idea of creating low-cost attritable combat robot wingman that could fly alongside piloted fighter jets.

The concept became the XQ-58 Valkyrie drone prototype. Made by Kratos Defense, the Valkyrie is an unmanned fighter jet controlled by Skyborg. Will Roper — USAF’s top acquisition official — now says that they want to take the program one step further and do two things with it.

MORE: US Military Developing Wireless Tech to Control Weapons With Your Mind

One, the USAF is talking with Lockheed Martin and Boeing to network the F-35 and F-15EX with the Valkyrie, so the drone can train and learn from pilots to escort them in missions like in a Japanese shoot-'em-up arcade game.

The second one is the possibility of embedding Skyborg in the actual planes so it can assist the human pilots in their missions the same way R2 helped Luke on the Death Star trench run. Talking to Defense News, Roper says that he’s very passionate about doing it: “The F-35 has a wonderful opportunity to do this as part of Block 4 [a new version of the fighter with new sensors and payload capabilities] [w]e might also have an opportunity to do this as part of F-15EX [Boeing’s 21st century update to the venerable fighter jet].

The XQ-58 Valkyrie, which has already flew its first test at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona last March, works just like a human-controlled fighter jet —- but one that is not bound by the laws of physics that affect pilots. As a result, it can do maneuvers that a human pilot can’t do because of our bodies’ physical limitations.

The USAF believes that they can produce this drones in great quantities for a couple of millions dollars per unit, which is nothing compared to the cost of an F-35, which right now it’s calculated between $94 and $122 million.

The logic is that, if you can have several squadrons of these machines flying alongside human pilots, your air superiority will be guaranteed. Of course, that ignores the fact that — at some point in the future — the AI will make the pilots redundant. Or the possibility that the enemy can hack into your war systems and turn your swarm of vicious fighter jets against your own troops. If history has told us anything, it's is that everything is hackable, without exception.

TOPICS
Jesus Diaz

Jesus Diaz founded the new Sploid for Gawker Media after seven years working at Gizmodo, where he helmed the lost-in-a-bar iPhone 4 story and wrote old angry man rants, among other things. He's a creative director, screenwriter, and producer at The Magic Sauce, and currently writes for Fast Company and Tom's Guide.

Latest in Tech
Casetify Bounce Suitcase
I ditched my Away Carry-On for a bright red suitcase made by a phone case brand, and I was shocked by how much I liked it
Columbia Sportswear and Intuitive Machines partnership
Columbia Sportswear’s UV-blocking technology just landed on the moon, and I spoke to the materials scientist who designed it
iPhone 16e review.
What Tom’s Guide tested this week — the iPhone 16e is the most polarizing phone of the year
A split screen photo showing a coffee grinder on one side and a smart watch on the other
What Tom’s Guide tested this week: Sony, OnePlus, Corsair and more
A split screen image showing an instant camera on the left and a Dyson vacuum on the right
What Tom’s Guide tested this week: Expert reviews of Dyson, Insta360 and more
A composite of Soundcore Space One Pro headphones and Sony ZV-1F vlogging camera
What Tom’s Guide tested this week: 5 products that won our expert reviewers’ hearts
Latest in News
The Signal app logo displayed on an iPhone, with a screenshot of the Signal app in use displayed on a monitor in the background.
Signal — everything you need to know about the app at the center of the group chat scandal
Robert Downey Jr. revealed as Doctor Doom for "Avengers: Doomsday"
Marvel reveals 'Avengers: Doomsday' casting — follow the latest updates live
Wyze Cam v3
Wyze adds AI-powered filter to its security cameras to cut down on notifications that are “no big deal”
Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) as Invincible in his blue suit during a scene from "Invincible" season 3 on Prime Video.
'Invincible' season 4 release window just announced — here's when it's coming
Microsoft Copilot app running on a phone with Microsoft logo in background
Microsoft 365 Copilot debuts new research tools for work: here's what that means
COLUMBUS, OHIO - JANUARY 26: Amber Glenn skates in the Women's Free Skate during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Nationwide Arena on January 26, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Watch World Figure Skating Championships 2025 online – live stream, schedule, what TV channel is it on?