Boeing to base US Air Force prototype on Australian pilotless combat jet

Boeing Co will use a pilotless, fighter-like jet developed in Australia as the basis for its US Air Force Skyborg prototype, an executive at the plane maker said on Tuesday.

The “Loyal Wingman”, the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years, made its first flight on Saturday under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring it from a ground control station in South Australia.

Boeing’s Loyal Wingman is 38 feet long (11.6 metres), has a 2,000 nautical mile (3,704 km) range and a nose that can be outfitted with various payloads. The plane can also carry weapons and act as a shield to help protect more expensive manned fighter jets.