US Air Force prepares to grant contracts for collaborative combat aircraft projects

The Air Force plans to award contracts for the next round of CCAs in fiscal 2025. This next round of CCA development could involve participation by the United States’ closest and most strategic international partners. On the first increment of CCAs, the Air Force has contracts with five companies: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Anduril. The Air Force plans to field several different types of CCAs, with different capabilities and levels of survivability, to carry out a wide range of missions. The Air Force is working on its first two “increments” of CCAs as part of its five-year plan, and is moving with a sense of urgency on the program. At least two firms could be working on the initial batch of CCAs. Companies who didn’t make the cut for the first increment will get a second shot in the next increment. At least one defense contractor, Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, remains interested in the program and plans to compete for the next version. Most of the attention paid to CCAs has so far focused on the companies building the physical drone portion, but another slew of contractors is working alongside them on software and other elements of the program. That work will continue apart from the individual increments to develop the CCA air vehicles. The Air Force has a high degree of confidence that they can deliver useful autonomy in increment one, but it will be more limited than what will be seen down the road.