DSEI 2025: The fighter market shift to Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)
A KF-21 Boramae aircraft. (Photo: Poder Aereo)
Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities is set to become a market differentiator for fighter aircraft, allowing 4.5-5th generation platforms to remain relevant to the battlefield.
With the extensive development of C4I systems, electronic warfare and other avionics, the aircraft has evolved into a system hub. While the global primes work to achieve a sixth-generation capability, it remains crucial that the defence industry continues to develop the 4.5-5th generation market, ensuring existing platforms remain appealing and able to keep up with modern battlefield requirements.
The broader concept of Manned-Unmanned Training (MUM-T) began to gain popularity, particularly within the US Air Force, more than 10 years ago, as a force multiplier that can increase the lethality and survivability of fighter aircraft. Today, this pathway is becoming increasingly
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