UAV model promises to change the nature of air combat in the US military

FMR drones promise to revolutionize manufacturing and change the nature of air combat in the future.

Sample drawing of the FMR project. Photo: US Air Force.

The US Department of Defense is developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) codenamed "Floating Missile Mount" (FMR), which promises to be a factor changing long-range air combat in the future, according to Popular Merchanic.

In early September 2017, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) proposed developing FMR with an estimated budget of about $375,000 in 2018. FMR is a solution to help reduce costs and complexity in the process of modernizing the air force. Instead of investing a lot of resources to produce new fighters, the US military can equip this type of UAV to old fighters to increase combat capabilities.

FMR can increase the range of the AIM-120 AMRAAM long-range air-to-air missile. The latest version of the US AIM-120D can hit targets at a distance of 160-180 km, while China has tested an air-to-air missile with a range of up to 320 km. Equipping FMR can help US fighters regain air superiority over Russian and Chinese aircraft.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Jones, program director at the US Air Force Strategic Technology Office, said the FMR will be integrated into the weapon racks of F-16 and F-18 fighters. This new UAV model reaches a maximum speed of 1,110 km/h and has a continuous operating time of about 20 minutes. The FMR is equipped with one or two AIM-120D missiles, which can be fired while on the mothership fighter or flying independently.

In a one-on-one dogfight, the FMR gives the US pilot more options for attack. If the enemy aircraft has more advanced missiles, the US fighter will launch the FMR so that the UAV can fight on its own, while the mother plane maintains a safe distance. If it encounters a weaker opponent, the US fighter can launch its own AIM-120 missiles, saving the FMR for a more dangerous dogfight.

FMR helps increase the effective range of older US fighters. Photo: US Air Force.

For the project to be successful, the FMR must be compatible with the weapons pylons of F-16 and F/A-18 fighters. It also needs space to accommodate communications equipment, connecting to the mothership. Technology from the FMR is expected to be applied to the Loyal Wingman program, which aims to convert manned fighters like the F-16 into semi-autonomous armed UAVs.

The US military plans to build the first FMR prototype and begin flight testing within the next two years. FMR will mark a revolution in the development of armed drones, promising to be the future of air combat, military expert Kyle Mizokami said.

According to VNE