Daaayum! So much chatter going on about LWs and it seems even the basic concept is somehow misunderstood.
We as human wants things to do everything with equal effectiveness but because of all the constraints of physics, especially that damned SWaP we are forced to compromise by focusing on some core competencies and letting others get degraded.
Infact the whole paradigm of weapons design is a compromise. In snipers you get accuracy and long range but lose volume of fire. In submarines you get unprecedented stealth but lose air defence. In F-35 you get one the most sophisticated aircraft in terms of sensors and processor but lose magazine depth.
Every single thing is designed to address one or two specific requirements. So the question is; what exactly is a Loyal Wingman supposed to bring on the table?
Low cost and attrition rate, PERIOD.
No maneuverability, no aerodynamic, no heebie jeebie...
• Australian AF has invested around $620M for 13 Ghost Bat, including R&D cost. Per unit cost comes to around $48M.
• F-35, after full rate production of more than 1,000 and an order book of around 2,500 more is still around $82M.
• This price is even lower than some HALE drones.
Now coming to attrition. Loyal Wingman project is perhaps the first large scale military project where one of the primary requirements is to have a dark factory. Absolute automation in manufacturing and a manufacturing rate so high that it can out-match the attrition rate of a LSCO.
Another important point; dogfight has become obsolete. If you're in the visual range of an enemy fighter then it means you've already broken some RoEs or have already done multiple mistakes. Unless an untill we develop an airframe (I guess we've had a long discussion about it) that can sustain maneuverability beyond the yield strength of current aircraft and more importantly, the human pilot...dog fight is not returning for LSCO. At max, it'd be limited to just shooting down CMs and LMs like we've seen in Ukraine because of the cost advantage.
Perhaps the best possible definition of a Loyal Wingman that I can come up with would be "Splitting a Su-30MkI/F-15"
You take a traditional two seater fighter in which you've a pilot and a WSO sharing the workload and split it into three separate planes; with a manned stealth fighter being the "pilot" and an onboard AI being the "WSO" controlling two UAVs.
A Hypothetical Multi-Domain Operation Against a Near-Peer Adversary
> Mission Objective: A joint strike package consisting of 4x manned stealth fighter (Spear) and 8x Loyal Wingman (Bug) is deployed to neutralize ADS, eliminate HVTs, engage enemy fighters in case retaliated and conduct real-time ISR in contested airspace.
> Loadout: Spear1 and 3 purely AD with 6x BVR-AAMs and 2x WVR-AAMs each. Spear2 and 4 are multirole with 2x BVR-AAMs, 2x 1000lbs and 2x WVR-AAMs.
Bug1 has SAR and multi-spectral sensor, Bug2 - 3 carry EW payload, Bug4 - 5 has 4x SDB with PRH seeker and Bug6 - 8 with 2x BVR-AAMs each.
> Formation: Bug1 leading a box with Spear1 being the box man, Bug2 and Bug4 being number 2 and 3. Trailing them is Spear2 with Bug3 and Bug5 in an inverted Vic. Followed by Spear4 with Bug6 - 8 dispersed around it at different altitude and separation. At the very rear and maximum ceiling is Spear3 providing overwatch.
> Phase 1: Ingress & Reconnaissance
Bug1 is way ahead of the package acting as scout and doing ISR with EW support from Bug2. Primary mission is to map all SAM emissions and jam them in case fired upon. Any surprise bogie would be dealt by Spear1.
> Phase 2: SEAD
Once mapped, Bug4 will engage radars with SDBs.
> Phase 3: Ground Attack
Spear2 would use it's PGMs to neutralize HVTs like C2 centres or runaways. Bug3 and 5 would deal with any remaining radar.
> Phase 4: Anti-Air
At this point, sufficient enemy aircraft would have been scrambled. Spear4's primary objectives would be to provide the offensive air capability with 3x LWs at its disposal armed with BVR-AAMs. The primary objective of these three would be just "absorbing" enemy fire while acting as a stand-off missile truck for the actual manned fighters. Secondary objective of this package would be ground attack in case Spear2 is not affirmative about neutralization.
> Phase 5: Egress
After contact is made, Spear4 will ensure the successful egress of all the manned fighters acting as both the anti-air commander and a mini AWACS.
> Phase 6: Post Mission
Bug1 would be the last to leave the airspace even if it means losing it. By staying it'll provide persistent ISR and also the primary BDA data.
This is the realistic scenario in which Loyal Wingman would be used instead of whatever...
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What about swift and ghatak?
Will they be used separately for ISR and stealth tactical bombing missions.
Or for example ghatak also can be used as higher end loyal wingman.
