US Air Force uses drones from which other drones launch

At the end of April 2021, the US Air Force reported the successful results of testing unmanned aircraft systems (ALS), in which a small UAV was launched from a larger drone.

A test conducted at the end of March by the Air Force Research Laboratory showed that the larger Valkyrie UAV can release smaller UAVs through the door of the weapon compartment. This new capability could be the basis for using the drone network deployed during combat.

This is the sixth flight of Valkyrie, but we first opened the doors of the cargo compartment in flight, "said Alyson Turri, manager of the demonstration program.

Valkyrie XQ-58A UAV

Valkyrie XQ-58A is a so-called "single-use UAV," that is, it is cheap enough to be easily replaced in case of damage or loss. Valkyrie drone hardware is being developed for use in a number of new Air Force technology programs, including the Skyborg program, which plans to use the drone network as a "slave" for manned fighters, as well as the Advanced Battle Management System, which will serve as the basis for the military Internet of Things.

The inclusion of a smaller drone, which can be deployed in the air, expands the capabilities of surveillance, the fight against drones and even the delivery of explosives. Smaller drones were developed by Kratos and Area-I, the last of which was acquired by Anduril Industries.

Other parts of the US armed forces are also investing in the development of drone networks. The transformation of single drones into single systems is a priority for research by Anduril, the new owner of Area-I, which specializes in in-flight drone launch systems.^[1]

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