// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Attritable
An attritable asset is a piece of military equipment, typically unmanned, that is designed and priced to be expendable. Its loss during a mission is expected and affordable, allowing commanders to take greater risks to achieve objectives.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Attritable refers to low-cost, high-volume military assets, often unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or autonomous vehicles, designed for acceptable, anticipated loss in combat environments. This military doctrine enables cost-imposing strategies, swarming tactics, and increased risk tolerance by deploying expendable platforms to overwhelm enemy defenses or conduct dangerous missions without jeopardizing high-value, manned assets.
BACKGROUND
The Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie is an experimental stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed and built by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the United States Air Force's Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) program, under the USAF Research Laboratory's Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) project portfolio. It was initially designated the XQ-222. The Valkyrie completed its first flight on 5 March 2019 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- expendable
- disposable
- low-cost
- sacrificial
- unmanned
- mass-produced
- single-use
USAGE NOTE
The term is frequently used in discussions about modern drone warfare to contrast inexpensive, numerous systems with expensive, crewed aircraft.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Attritable.
A leader in the development of low-cost, high-performance unmanned aerial systems. Their XQ-58A Valkyrie is a prime example of an attritable aircraft designed for runway-independence and to act as a loyal wingman.
A defense technology company focused on building AI-powered, autonomous systems for military applications. They are developing platforms like the Fury UAS, designed for mass production and attritable operations.
A major developer of unmanned aerial vehicles that is actively designing attritable platforms. Their Gambit series is an Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) intended to work in concert with crewed aircraft.
A global aerospace company developing the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an uncrewed teaming aircraft designed to provide fighter-like performance as a loyal wingman, making it a key asset in the attritable aircraft category.
A major defense contractor competing in the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, leveraging its extensive experience in stealth and autonomous systems to develop next-generation attritable platforms.
Through its Skunk Works division, Lockheed Martin is developing advanced, low-cost unmanned aircraft for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, designed to augment the capabilities of next-generation fighters.
An artificial intelligence company developing an AI pilot called Hivemind, which enables swarms of drones and attritable aircraft to operate autonomously in contested environments without GPS or direct human control.
A U.S. Department of Defense agency that funds and manages research into breakthrough technologies for national security. DARPA has initiated multiple programs, such as Air Combat Evolution (ACE), focused on developing the autonomous capabilities essential for attritable aircraft.