Strategic Intelligence - Manned-Unmanned Teaming

Strategic Intelligence - Manned-Unmanned Teaming

Summary

"Manned-Unmanned Teaming (2026)" is part of the analyst's Strategic Intelligence series. Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) pairs expensive, complex manned platforms with larger numbers of relatively cheap unmanned systems to multiply firepower and absorb combat attrition at reduced risk to life. The return of high-attrition conventional warfare is driving development, and the concept is moving toward production, with General Atomics and Anduril selected for USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 production in June 2026.

The report explains the technology behind MUM-T, including levels of interoperability, AI autonomy, swarming and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), and maps the value chain across unmanned platforms, manned platforms and software components. It profiles MUM-T programs by country and domain, identifies leading public and private companies, and ranks aerospace, defense and security companies through the analyst's sector scorecard.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), known colloquially as drones, have been a widely used part of arsenals for decades and arguably centuries, when counting crude balloon weapons. As the market for unmanned systems has continued to expand in recent years, the rising diversification of manufacturers and specialists has rendered this market segment far more accessible than ever before. The hegemony of Western defense firms in this sector is beginning to be challenged by emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East. While these emerging markets still fall somewhat short of US dominance, this competition is helping to incentivize further innovation across the UAV market.

Over the past decade, major players in the global UAV market have directed significant attention and investment toward expanding the mission set of UAV platforms beyond the traditional ISR and precision ground strike roles. Buoyed by the continued development of artificial intelligence (AI) and platform autonomy solutions, Western defense firms are exploring new roles for UAV platforms, including aerial refueling, strategic bombing, and loyal wingmen, among others. However, one concept is being explored which, despite its significant technological challenges, has the potential to radically alter the conduct of aerial combat operations and consequently the entire aerospace market over the next few decades: Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T).

Key Highlights

• The return of conventional, high-attrition warfare is driving MUM-T development, with cheaper unmanned platforms used to multiply the firepower of exquisite manned systems
• Data processing and computing power will be vital to MUM-T success, as the volume of sensor data threatens to overwhelm crews
• General Atomics and Anduril were selected for USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 production in June 2026
• Maritime is the segment moving fastest from experimentation to production, with US Navy and Australian programs of record now in place

Scope

• The technology briefing explains levels of interoperability, centaur warfare, human aeromedical considerations, AI autonomy, swarming and JADC2, as well as the challenges facing MUM-T
• The value chain covers unmanned platforms, manned platforms and software components, identifying leaders and challengers in each segment
• Use cases detail MUM-T programs in Australia, China, the UK, the US and Türkiye, and in the land and sea domains
• The companies section identifies the leading public and private companies in the theme, and the sector scorecard ranks aerospace, defense and security companies

Reasons to Buy

• Understand how MUM-T could reshape aerial combat operations and the wider aerospace market over the next few decades
• Identify the leaders and challengers across the unmanned platforms, manned platforms and software components value chains
• Benchmark national MUM-T programs across the air, land and sea domains
• Use the analyst's sector scorecard to assess which aerospace, defense and security companies are best positioned in this theme