Boeing, Australia Defence Force To Develop Robotic Jet Fighter.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: BEST OF THE WEB

GEELONG, Australia -- The Australian Defence Force and Boeing on Feb. 27 announced an ambitious plan to develop the first autonomous robotic jet fighter that will serve as a wingman to other manned platforms in air battles.

Boeing unveiled a mockup of the "Air-power Teaming System" aircraft on the second day of Avalon--the Australian International Airshow. It would be the first aircraft developed and built in Australia since World War II.

The program also makes a statement to the world that Australia is no longer content to be merely a buyer of military equipment, but has ambitions to be a developer and exporter as well, said Australian Minister of Defence Christopher Pyne. "This is all testament to the fact that we are undergoing our largest buildup of our military capability in our peacetime history--$200 billion over the next 10 years," Pyne said.

The nation's ambition is to be the world leader in autonomous jet fighters, Pyne said. "We are at the forefront of it. We have taken the first step, and that means we should be the great beneficiaries of it."

The Australian Defence Department has committed to spend $40 million over the next four years for the project with Boeing adding an undisclosed amount of its internal research-and-development funds. There is a lot of work remaining on the program and Pyne...