Increased range will be a “core attribute” of the future fighter, Rear Adm. Michael “Buzz” Donnelly said.

“I think it helps if we can jointly build whatever the next system is. I think that would be a positive thing," said Sen. Mark Kelly.

The services want their respective robotic wingmen to have common aircraft architecture, communications links, autonomy architecture and ground-control segments, Brig. Gen. Dale White told reporters.