PRIMARY ASSET ESCORT THROUGH THREATENED AIRSPACE BY AN AUTONOMOUS AERIAL VEHICLE TEAM

A system and method for formation flying includes a primary asset accompanied by a plurality of secondary assets. The secondary assets fly around the primary asset in a predetermined formation to achieve a desired degree to range and scanning. The secondary assets are not mission critical such that if some or all are lost to attrition, the primary asset may continue the mission or abort with a high probability of survival. The primary asset may include a high value payload, either in terms of equipment expense or mission criticality. Furthermore, the secondary assets may autonomously reposition and reorient according to mission priorities or the loss of one or more of the secondary assets. The primary asset and secondary assets implement algorithms and software functions to allow the primary asset to navigate through airspace without being harmed by any known or yet to be known lethal threats.