Mitsubishi Heavy Industries presented two concepts of artificial intelligence-enabled collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) at the Japan International Aerospace event in Tokyo.
The first concept, showcased as a 1:10-scale model, is a tactical combat support drone intended for various missions, where it takes off from land, attacks an adversary, and returns.
The second concept is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance combat support drone of approximately 6 meters (19 feet) long, designated “ARMDC-20X.”
This stands for “Affordable Rapid Prototype Missile Drone Concept,” with X indicating its status as a concept under development.
Both drones are conceptualized with stealth capabilities, an open architecture, and updatable AI to adapt quickly to various missions. As manned-unmanned teaming gains traction in modern defense systems, these concepts aim to integrate seamlessly.
Additionally, the drones are designed for low-cost production and are expendable, meaning they are intended to withstand losses in combat.
In a video demonstration displayed at the event, the conceptual CCA was shown detecting and identifying a threat resembling a Chinese Chengdu J-20 aircraft.
The CCA relayed the information to a crewed fighter jet, augmenting the pilot’s situational awareness via a data link. The pilot then instructed the CCA to fire its weapons at the enemy target.
Under a government contract, Mitsubishi is expected to conduct flight demonstrations of these drones by 2025.
This development is part of Japan’s broader efforts to bolster its defense capabilities amid rising regional tensions with China.
In addition to its participation in the Global Combat Air Programme with the UK and Italy to jointly develop a sixth-gen stealth fighter, Japan also plans to collaborate with the US on a drone wingman project.
