From the cockpit of an F-22 fighter to an aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific, the US military is showing new ways to command uncrewed aircraft over vast distances.
The United States disclosed two tests this month as Washington seeks to outpace Beijing in a technology contest that could redefine air and naval power in the region.
Illustrating US military advances and their potential significance for a Taiwan conflict, an F-22 pilot controlled an autonomous YFQ-44A combat drone during flight, while operators aboard USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier remotely operated an MQ-25A refuelling drone at a facility more than 3,380km (2,100 miles) away in Illinois.
10:01
What do we know about China’s two next-generation aircraft?
Experts say these technologies could help US forces track and strike targets while keeping manned platforms beyond the reach of enemy defences. They warn, however, that Chinese jamming and anti-satellite attacks could disrupt the communications links needed to command the drones.