# @thevigilantheroes on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DL9Ytx1g9wz
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66793557-thevigilantheroes-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/45aed7e479.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-11T07:29:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Vigilant Heroes (@thevigilantheroes) — https://gondola.cc/thevigilantheroes

## Caption

The U.S. Air Force announced another major leap in the effort to bring “autonomous collaborative platforms” into the fight—think drone wingmen that can fly alongside manned fighters to bring additional fuel, sensors, weapons and attack capability to an air campaign.  The event took place during a test flight over the military ranges at Eglin Air Force Base...(the panhandle of Northwest Florida...at undisclosed time—but announced Tues 8 July)
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In the demo, pilots in an F-16C and an F-15E each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones in real time, showing how human-machine formations can work together...previously only a single aircraft controlled drone wingmen—not ‘dissimilar’ aircraft operating their own collaborative platforms together....a group of Falcons/wingmen flying with Eagles/wingmen without incident controlled by only two pilots is an impressive advancement, but if the Air Force has its way—only the beginning.
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“This test with ACPs directly addresses the evolving requirements of modern warfare,” said Gen. Ken Wilsbach, head of Air Combat Command. “It’s about rapidly learning and sharpening our combat capabilities so we maintain air superiority in complex future environments.” To translate: we’re figuring out how to get more drone wingmen into the air because our adversaries are surely doing the same.
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The flight was part of a joint initiative led by the Department of Defense’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve program and executed through collaboration between the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Combat Command, Air Force Test Center, and the U.S. Navy.
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AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei called it “a crucial step” toward defeating complex threats, saying the integration of autonomous systems with manned platforms allows for rapid adaptation, enhanced mission effectiveness, and increased survivability for aircrews.  We expect this tech to continue to advance—and quick. We’ll keep you updated: thevigilantheroes
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Note; imagery in this post is representative as no actual footage of the test has been released…
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#AirForce #Drone #Tech #Miltech #Falcon #F15 #Navy #testpilot #florida #ai #dogfight #futurewar

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## Tags

drone, futurewar, f15, airforce, navy, testpilot, dogfight, ai, florida, falcon, tech, miltech

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