Lockheed Martin will test single-use Speed Racer drone for up to $2 million for F-35 Lightning II fighter

The U.S. fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter may receive a companion in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle in the near future. The company Lockheed Martin, which is also the developer of the aircraft itself, is working on the creation of the drone.

Here's What We Know

The drone is called the Speed Racer. In the near future, Lockheed Martin will conduct a planned test of the drone. The tests will take place as part of Project Carrera, a one-time drone program costing less than $2 million.

$100 million has been invested in the project, with one-fifth of that amount spent on combining the operation of manned and unmanned systems. $42 million is allocated for open architecture and artificial intelligence development.

Project Carrera will allow Lockheed Martin to develop a low-cost, disposable drone for electronic warfare and sensing. It could also be used as a decoy for air-defense systems.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine