USAF adds third contender for initial robot-wingman buy; picks 9 for next phase

Left in the cold after the Air Force picked Anduril and General Atomics to develop prototype robot wingmen, Northrop Grumman responded with a secret, self-financed effort to get back in the game. On Monday, the Virginia-based defense giant reached its goal: service officials announced that its planned collaborative combat aircraft—unveiled just weeks ago as Project Talon—could compete for initial production contracts.The Air Force also announced on Monday that nine unnamed companies