INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Department of the Air Force has begun ground testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, marking a major milestone in its
effort to integrate autonomous systems into the future force.This ground test phase includes rigorous evaluations of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A
force packages and human-machine teaming
capabilities, the DAF has selected Beale Air Force Base, California, as the preferred location to host a CCA Aircraft Readiness Unit
CCA are semi-autonomous in nature so the ARU will not have to fly a significant number of daily sorties to maintain readiness
The aircraft will be maintained in a fly-ready status and flown minimally so the number of airmen required to support the fleet will be
A competitive Increment 1 production decision is expected in fiscal year 2026, with development for Increment 2 beginning that same year to
and F-35, which have a limited number of shots because they must carry missiles internally to remain stealthy
Pilots of the two frontline fighters have for years asked the Air Force to find a way to expand the number of weapons they can shoot per
expanding the number of aircraft and missiles the combat fleet can put in the air, and compelling an adversary to treat each one as a
fully-capable threat aircraft
unnamed General Atomics CCA take off and land conventionally on a runway
The Air Force has experimented with other autonomous craft, however, that launch from a vehicle on the ground and are either recovered
The YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril, is one of two production representative test vehicles which will be critical in securing air dominance
for the Joint Force in future conflicts, leveraging autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested
