All articles tagged with #collaborative combat aircraft
At the Singapore Air Show, General Atomics and Anduril signaled that the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program could reuse Fury-era components and design concepts to deliver a carrier-capable unmanned platform, with multiple contractors developing concepts and a common-control system while the Navy refines its operating concept for carrier-based CCAs.
Anduril's prototype drone, YFQ-44A, achieved its first flight as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, marking a significant step in developing autonomous drone wingmen to operate alongside fighter aircraft, with further testing and integration planned for 2026.
Anduril's YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft conducted its first flight test in California, marking a significant step in the U.S. Air Force's initiative to develop AI-driven, semi-autonomous drone wingmen to operate alongside manned fighters, with the goal of enhancing combat capabilities and extending the reach of the fighter fleet.
Anduril's YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft has begun flight testing, marking a rapid development from design to flight in just 556 days, with a focus on autonomy, mass production, and collaboration with the U.S. Air Force to enhance air superiority and adapt to evolving threats.
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has unveiled the Vectis, a new stealthy, reusable collaborative combat aircraft designed for both U.S. and international military use, capable of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and surveillance missions, with flight expected in two years. The aircraft builds on previous sixth-generation prototypes and aims to offer high survivability and flexibility, potentially serving alongside crewed aircraft and competing with similar international designs.
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has unveiled Vectis, a highly adaptable, stealthy Group 5 combat drone designed for multi-mission roles including air-to-air, air-to-surface, and ISR, expected to fly within two years. The drone emphasizes survivability, modularity, and open mission systems, with a focus on interoperability and rapid upgradability, aiming to meet diverse operational needs across global theaters. Its development aligns with evolving military concepts like distributed operations and runway independence, though it remains runway-dependent in its current form.
Australia is developing its first domestically designed and manufactured military drone, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, in partnership with Boeing, marking a significant shift in its defense industry and signaling an arms race among major powers like China, the US, and Australia itself.
The U.S. Department of the Air Force successfully conducted the first flight of the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, developed with General Atomics, marking a significant milestone in rapid, innovative airpower development aimed at deploying modular, uncrewed aircraft alongside advanced manned fighters. The program emphasizes speed, competition, and open-system architecture to enhance combat capabilities and operational flexibility.
Anduril Industries and General Atomics have completed critical design reviews for their drone designs under the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, setting the stage for test flights next year. The CCA program aims to deploy around 1,000 drone wingmen to operate alongside fighter jets by the end of the decade. Both companies are advancing their prototypes, with Anduril's Fury and General Atomics' Gambit leading the charge. The Air Force may select one or both designs for production, with further opportunities for other vendors in the future.
The compromise defense policy bill would allow the Air Force to retire older F-15 Eagle fighters and A-10 Warthogs, but would block the retirement of 32 older F-22A Raptors. Lawmakers are requesting more information on the Air Force's plans for incorporating collaborative combat aircraft and creating the Next Generation Air Dominance future fighter platform. The bill also requires the Air Force to maintain a minimum inventory of 1,112 fighters and present a long-term plan for its tactical fighter force. Additionally, the bill addresses the acquisition of fleets of collaborative combat aircraft and the update of the Air Force's tanker fleet.
The US Air Force is developing collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to expand its fighter fleet in preparation for great-power competition with China. CCAs can operate remotely or autonomously and perform a range of missions, including air-to-air combat, airstrikes, and intelligence-gathering. They will be able to operate alongside piloted aircraft in manned-unmanned teams or completely autonomously with other CCAs. The Air Force wants cheaper, capable airframes to provide "affordable mass" and address pilot retention and generation issues. The development of CCAs is one of the Air Force's biggest priorities and will shape the future of its inventory.