The U.S. Air Force is increasing its acquisition of drones for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) experimentation unit located at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. According to Andrew Hunter, the service’s acquisition chief, the additional purchases were approved to facilitate experimentation with these drones, referred to as robot wingmen, during potential combat scenarios.
Hunter disclosed that the Air Force will acquire more prototypes from two vendors, General Atomics and Anduril, both of which are developing the “increment one” CCAs. However, he did not specify the number of drones to be purchased or the timeline for their delivery to the Nevada unit. The additional assets will provide warfighters with ample opportunities for experimentation prior to operational fielding expected by the end of the decade, stated Diem Salmon, the vice president for air dominance and strike at Anduril.
The experimental operations unit’s goal is to enhance trust in autonomous fighters while developing effective tactics and procedures. C. Mark Brinkley, a spokesman for General Atomics, emphasized the importance of supplying actual CCAs for this process. Recently, both companies reached a critical milestone called the critical design review, as noted by Col. Timothy Helfrich, senior material leader for the advanced aircraft division at Air Force Materiel Command. The program has remained on schedule by prioritizing essential capabilities over excessive features.
General Atomics and Anduril plan to conduct flights of their drone designs in the upcoming year. Following these tests, the Air Force will evaluate which, if either, of the companies will advance to production. This decision will depend on the outcome of the flight tests, along with each company’s capability to scale production efficiently.
Hunter reiterated the necessity for CCAs to be affordable, maintaining that their cost will be significantly lower than that of an F-35 fighter jet. Additionally, the Air Force is pursuing two other key modernization programs: a sixth-generation fighter jet known as Next Generation Air Dominance and a next-generation tanker system. However, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall acknowledged that financial constraints may hinder the simultaneous pursuit of all three programs.
Kendall’s remarks highlighted the acquisition community’s need to prioritize affordability in all programs. Hunter agreed, emphasizing the importance of integrating cost considerations into all developmental efforts, including the Next Generation Air Refueling System and future dominance solutions.
Lastly, the potential impact of a new presidential administration on these modernization plans remains uncertain. Hunter noted that the future direction would heavily depend on the strategy adopted by the incoming administration, suggesting that if the strategy aligns with current focuses, the Air Force’s systems will continue to be well-positioned to meet upcoming challenges.
