Loyal wingman programmes gather pace as US and European procurement plans take shape

Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Anduril are positioning their uncrewed aircraft for future collaborative combat aircraft and loyal-wingman contracts as procurement plans develop in the United States and Europe. Shephard cites a market forecast exceeding $36 billion, but that figure represents projected demand rather than committed orders. In June 2026, the U.S. Air Force awarded contracts covering engineering, manufacturing and production of its first collaborative combat aircraft to General Atomics for the FQ-42A and Anduril for the FQ-44A. European air forces and suppliers are also developing concepts for drones to operate alongside crewed fighters in sensing, electronic warfare and strike roles. Programmes remain at different development and procurement stages, rather than constituting large operational fleets already in service.