For the first time, a Navy drone and human pilots are flying side by side

In a test conducted this past weekend, the Navy launched and landed manned aircrafts and unmanned drones in rapid succession, a historic first attempt to mix humans and drones on the same aircraft operation. According to a report from The Aviationist, the Navy successfully tested a X-47B unmanned combat aircraft system alongside a F/A-18 Hornet piloted by a person. The drone “completed a series of tests, which included a catapult launch and arrested landing, which demonstrated its ability to operate safely and seamlessly with manned aircraft.” While the X-47B could be armed to carry out lethal strikes, so far the Navy has insisted that it has no plans to weaponize this particular drone.