'Digital Century Series' Approach May Live On In USAF's Autonomous Plans

A U.S. Air Force-published graphic illustrates the concept of a human pilot in a next-generation fighter controlling multiple Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
Credit: U.S. Air Force
DAYTON, Ohio—The U.S. Air Force’s short-lived “Digital Century Series” plan appears to be dead for future crewed fighters, but the service says the plan’s focus on rapidly iterating designs could be relevant for its future drones. In 2019, Will Roper, then the assistant secretary of the Air Force...
Brian Everstine

Brian Everstine is the Pentagon Editor for Aviation Week, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining Aviation Week in August 2021, he covered the Pentagon for Air Force Magazine. Brian began covering defense aviation in 2011 as a reporter for Military Times.

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