The bombs and missiles that Fury, the pilotless collaborative combat aircraft that will accompany the F-35, can carry

The bombs and missiles that Fury, the pilotless collaborative combat aircraft that will accompany the F-35, can carry

Anduril has shown new images of the weapons that it wants to incorporate into the Furyone of the collaborative pilotless fighter aircraft selected for the United States Air Force. The photographs show ground assembly tests with various external loads, which expand its attack possibilities beyond combat against other aircraft, in a prototype YFQ-44A of the Fury.

Among the weapons that appear in the images are two guided bombs GBU-39/B of small diameter, of the category of 113 kilosinstalled on a support under the left wing. Launching containers are also observed for 70 millimeter rocketswhich can be guided or unguided, on the right wing. According to details provided by Anduril to The War Zone, possibilities include guided bombs JDAM of some 227 kilos.

The company has also begun engineering work to integrate its cruise missile Barracuda 500 and consider trying other air-to-air weapons and targeting equipment. These assembly tests allow us to check how the weapons fit into the aircraft, but air-to-ground weapons have not yet been tested in flight.

The Fury has demonstrated its ability to fire an air-to-air missile AIM-120 AMRAAM during testing. The YFQ-44A has a hardpoint under each wing and can carry an AIM-120 missile on each, but the images show that those same points allow attach two bombs or two rocket launchers using double adapterswhich will depend on the type of weaponry. According to Anduril, the production version will have four anchor points and will be able to carry four AIM-120one at each point.

The development of this weapon is part of the US program of collaborative combat aircraft, known as CCA by its acronym in English. They are pilotless aircraft with autonomous capabilities designed to work alongside manned fighters. Its function is to provide more weapons and sensors to the formation without needing an additional pilot on board each device.

Fury prototype, YFQ-44A, equipped with an AIM-120 air-to-air missile under its wing. USAF.

The plans contemplate that these aircraft operate alongside the F-22 and F-35In addition to the future F-47. They will be able expand the area monitored by its sensors and increase the number of weapons available for a mission. The incorporation of bombs will allow attacks against ground targets to be added to these functions.

The US Air Force has also selected the YFQ-42A of General Atomicsfinally named as Vengeancefor the first phase of the program and has commissioned the manufacture of both models with the aim of having at least 500 CCAs in service by 2032.