USAF Death Claw Shows New Way To Speed Development

January 23, 2020
Death Claw
Accurately aiming the F-16’s M61 Vulcan gun (shown above) now relies on the skill of the pilot, but a group of test pilots proved the autopilot is a better shot.
Credit: Senior Airman Rusty Frank/U.S. Air Force
A 40-year-old idea to improve strafing accuracy by transferring flight control of a manned fighter to the autopilot to aim the gun is being revived as the U.S. Air Force looks internally for innovations that can be demonstrated and delivered quickly. An operational version of the Digitally Enhanced...

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