The U.S. Air Force has officially begun ground testing of the YFQ-44A, a next-generation unmanned fighter aircraft developed by defense technology company Anduril Industries. This testing phase, taking place in a state-of-the-art chamber in Costa Mesa, California, represents a pivotal step in advancing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, an ambitious initiative to redefine the future of air combat by integrating autonomous platforms with traditional crewed aircraft.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program is a cornerstone of the Air Force’s future force design, focused on developing unmanned aerial platforms that can operate seamlessly alongside manned fighter jets. The CCA concept envisions a family of autonomous aircraft that can perform a range of combat and support roles, including electronic warfare, reconnaissance, strike missions, and acting as decoys or loyal wingmen. These aircraft are not just drones but sophisticated systems designed with artificial intelligence and advanced networking capabilities to enable manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). The primary goals of the CCA initiative are to increase combat mass affordably, reduce the risk to human pilots in high-threat environments, and provide greater operational flexibility. As the global air threat landscape evolves, CCA platforms are expected to be a key enabler of air superiority, allowing the U.S. Air Force to project power and maintain a technological edge in contested and denied environments.
The YFQ-44A, internally known by the project name “Fury,” is one of two production-representative test vehicles selected for rigorous evaluation in the CCA program’s Increment 1 phase. These unmanned platforms are expected to significantly enhance operational capabilities by engaging in high-risk missions alongside fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and the next-generation air dominance fighter, currently referred to as the F-47. The concept revolves around manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), in which autonomous drones act as force multipliers, scouting, jamming, striking, or absorbing enemy fire, while extending the reach and survivability of manned aircraft.
The YFQ-44A’s design embodies a distinct shift in defense acquisition philosophy, focusing on cost-effective scalability without compromising capability. Anduril has pursued a modular and pragmatic engineering approach, incorporating commercial-off-the-shelf components such as a widely used business jet engine, simplified landing gear systems, and a streamlined airframe. This strategy significantly reduces production and maintenance costs while ensuring quicker delivery timelines, a key objective in the Air Force’s push for affordable mass to sustain combat operations over extended periods in contested environments.