The U.S. Air Force has commenced ground testing of its first Anduril-made semiautonomous drone wingmen, referred to as collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs). These drones are expected to be operational within months.
On a Thursday morning, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin announced the initiation of the ground testing phase on X (formerly known as Twitter), sharing a video that featured the unveiling of Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A, previously called Fury. Allvin proclaimed this development as a “huge milestone” towards achieving first flight and rapid deployment of CCAs, expressing excitement about the capabilities of these unmanned fighters.
As ground testing of the Anduril CCA progresses, the company anticipates that the YFQ-44A will take to the skies this summer. Jason Levin, Anduril’s senior vice president of air dominance and strike, emphasized that their collaboration with the Air Force is set to revolutionize air combat by delivering agile and affordable fighter capabilities.
To support CCAs, the Air Force intends to establish the first aircraft readiness unit at Beale Air Force Base in California. This unit will be responsible for ensuring combat aircraft are primed for immediate deployment.
In April 2024, the Air Force selected both Anduril and General Atomics to design and test the initial versions of CCAs, which are intended to complement existing aircraft such as the F-35 and the upcoming Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, known as the F-47. The CCAs will utilize autonomous software to perform missions with minimal pilot input, including airstrikes, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and decoy operations.
The Air Force has proposed developing a fleet of around 1,000 CCAs, highlighting their potential cost-effectiveness compared to traditional fighters. Allvin emphasized the importance of this strategy as a response to current personnel and aircraft shortages, advocating for a new mindset in acquisition that favors adaptability and rapid innovation.
General Atomics is also preparing to begin ground testing of its CCA, the YFQ-42A, with expectations to commence flights in the coming months. In Allvin’s statements, he pointed out that the initiation of ground tests for the Anduril CCA significantly reduces risk and strengthens the integration of new systems, ultimately aiming to provide decisive advantages in complex operational environments.
Moreover, the Air Force has noted that pilotless CCAs will not require daily flights to keep pilots combat-ready, allowing the Beale readiness unit to maintain CCAs in a “fly-ready status” while substantially reducing the number of necessary support personnel.
By fiscal year 2026, the Air Force anticipates making a decision regarding the production of one of the two CCA variants, as it gears up to develop the second “increment” of CCAs, which will incorporate advanced technology and a broader scope of missions.
