MANNED–UNMANNED TEAMING AND COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT

This article explores the emerging role of manned–unmanned teaming (MUM T) in modern military aviation, focusing on its integration with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). MUM-T represents a pivotal shift in air warfare, allowing for collaboration between manned and unmanned platforms like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, enhancing operational efficiency, reducing human risk, and enabling new combat tactics. The article highlights NATO and EU initiatives that emphasize AI and MUM-T for improving decision-making and situational awareness. It also delves into the tactical use of collaborative combat aircraft in air operations, including counterair missions, and the integration of AI for managing drone swarms and other autonomous systems. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for MUM-T and collaborative combat aircraft integration that incorporates higher levels of autonomy and AI-assisted coordination. A key contribution is the introduction of an operator capacity model, which describes the relationship between the number of unmanned systems, communication latency, and AI support. Furthermore, the article underscores the importance of robust, secure communication technologies and the future potential of AI-driven systems to support human-machine collaboration in complex military operations.