Cooperative Engagement: Concept for a Near Term Air-To-Air Unmanned Combat Aircraft System

Air superiority has been a near given for the US in every conflict since the Korean War. We are, however, at the cusp of time in history where this could be challenged. An explosion in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and proliferation combine with an unpredictable asymmetric threat at the same time that the USAF inventory of air superiority fighter aircraft is decreasing rapidly. It is very plausible that we could enter a period where the air superiority requirements outstrip our capabil...