On Wednseday, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne unveiled the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS), an Australian-designed unmanned platform that flies alongside high-value assets such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Boeing P-8 Poseidon, and Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
The point of the F35 was not that it was a dog fighter, but it had the intelligent yes and ears for a forward look and battle field management. These drones can be forward eyes and ears and the battle management function done with an F18, and my used linux system.
The F35 is constructed of special purpose electronics from 1995, and we had a Moore law since then. We should be able to cram all of battle management into one equipment bay on an F18. Then double and triple up on redundant comm links to your bots.
If I were Russia, that would be my bet, compact and improve battle management, and place that into an existing medium range fighter/bomber. Then selll flying bots that are compatible. Dog fighting changes as the bot can fly ahead and light up a target with radar while it is out of sight, then guide a longer range missile at the target.
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