The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is looking at the platform sharing concept that has been standard practice in carmaking for decades, which could make autonomous drones more affordable, Defense News reported. Platform sharing means producers mass-produce common underlying frames upon which they can build multiple vehicle models to save time, improve reliability and make the parts supply chain simpler. AFRL hopes this kind of approach could make it easier to create drone wingmen, like for in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft to work with crewed fighters.