New autonomous fighters entering service.

Autonomous jet fighters are actually large-sized drones. Those drones can operate like manned jet fighters. They can make almost all missions as humans. And those drones can be robotic versions of regular fighters. Like F-15,F-16 and F/A-18. Or they can be specially made for drone missions like Kratos QF-58 “Valkyrie”, or FQ-42, and FQ-44. The idea of robotic jet fighters is not new. During WW2, there were plans to create a Western version of the “Kamikaze”. The Western version of the Kamikaze. It was a remote-controlled. An aircraft that could dive to the target and be controlled from other aircraft. The first attempts to use remotely controlled aircraft, like radio-controlled B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses, against German V-1 production. 

Those early drones were unsuccessful. And the reason for that was primitive technology. Another idea was that CAM ships were equipped with radio-controlled V-1 or later Regulus missiles. The idea was that those systems could attack enemy ships. Even if “Operation Aphrodite” was unsuccessful. The idea of those long-range drones remains. 

But then, long after the WW2. Things, encoded radio transmitters, and more effective computer technology made those systems suitable for operational use. There were ideas to use the target drones. Like QF-4 Phantoms.  And QF-16 fighting Falcons. Also. For Kamikaze missions.  Those drones could also fly. With manned aircraft. And pull the enemy's notice to them. The drone can fly into enemy airspace. And then the enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft systems. They can aim at those non-stealth aircraft. And the F-35 type stealth aircraft can follow them. 

The first so-called killer drones were MQ-1 “Predators” and MQ-9 “Reapers”. Those drones were and are made for anti-guerilla operations. So they are vulnerable to air defense and other drones. There is also. A possibility to use the robot jet fighter in attack missions. Those systems require the same technology. As those slower drones. But in those missions, the problem is electronic warfare. But advanced AI makes those systems more effective. The main problem with “Predators” and “Reapers” is that they are slow. They have an old-fashioned stealth technology. And this makes them an easy target. Those systems are used to force the enemy to open fire. And then stealth aircraft will attack those flak systems. 

But the problem is that. The robot aircraft requires more advanced stealth technology. And independent AI to accomplish their missions. The modern jet fighter. It can cooperate with drones. The drone can fly near the fighter. And it can be used for attacks at low altitude and high-risk targets. Those drones can make the attack. When the jet fighter is backward. The drone can have internal warheads. It can also be equipped with missiles and bombs. 

In some ideas, the B-52 type strategic bombers. They could be transformed into robots. The system finds its targets. The aircraft. It can find its targets using radars and other systems. In some cases. The small stealth aircraft can drop a drone. On the roof of the target. The bomber or attack fighter activates the target locator by using radar. A drone can use a radio transmitter. Or it can use lasers to point at the target. And then the bomber. It can drop its weapons on that target. 

In original ideas, the system that uses crossing radio signals will make the aircraft. To fly into its target. The crossing radio signal over the target makes the system open the bomb hatches and drop them. The system is based on the “Loran” technology. The aircraft. It flies to the target by using the radio beam. That is aimed at the target. Then the aircraft crosses the first crossing radio signal. That orders it. To open bomb hatches. Then another crossing radio beam orders the aircraft to drop its bombs. The problem was: how to deny the enemy from spoofing the radio signal. The answer was the encoded radio transmission. 

Another version was the AI that uses the TERCOM system. Or a TERCOM-inertial hybrid system.  To find the target. The system can use optical image recognition for search and lock onto the target. This means that independently operating drones. They are more immune to electronic warfare. Than the remotely controlled systems. 

The system requires training. And the thing is that. The F-35 can collect data that those drones require. Those drones can also operate independently. And the air-to-air capable drones. They can be launched against the enemy bombers and fighters from catapults. The drone-plane. It can also carry anti-radiation missiles. Those systems can be used against the electronic warfare systems. And they can open a path to other drones and aircraft. 

https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-production-of-autonomous-fighter-jets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERCOM