US Air Force Selects General Atomics and Anduril for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
The US Air Force has chosen General Atomics and Anduril to develop the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, will compete to provide autonomy software for loyal wingman drones. The cost of the program and the number of vehicles each hardware provider will be contracted for remain undisclosed. The program aims to be one-third the cost of an F-35, with a cost per unit estimated to be under $30 million. The Air Force plans to allocate funding for CCA drone development and procurement in fiscal 2027.
The capabilities of the CCA drones are mostly confidential, but the mission for this increment is air superiority with a combat radius of 700 nautical miles. The development of CCA is divided into increments, with the current announcement marking the first increment. A second increment is in progress with nine vendors who received early development contracts. Anduril and General Atomics secured prototyping contracts for the CCA program in 2024, surpassing Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
The selection of Anduril and General Atomics for the CCA program was based on their ability to meet the Air Force's schedule, cost criteria, and performance requirements. The two designs chosen for prototyping in 2024 have been refined based on lessons learned. The program structure allows flexibility in awarding lots to vendors based on various factors to deliver capability quickly and efficiently.
The engines for the CCA drones will be provided by the contractor, and the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A designations for General Atomics and Anduril will be updated. The crash of the YFQ-42A prototype earlier this year did not influence the source selection process. The autonomy software competition ran separately from the hardware process, with RTX and Shield AI selected to provide autonomy for the drones.
General Atomics and Anduril will move forward with developing software, while GA, Lockheed, and Northrop will undergo a performance period before a final downselect in summer 2027. The Air Force plans to keep all six software vendors in a pool as a backup option. General Atomics and Anduril expressed excitement about moving into production and delivering production aircraft for testing and operational fielding.
In conclusion, the US Air Force's selection of General Atomics and Anduril for the CCA program marks a significant advancement in the service's future capabilities. The program aims to deliver cost-effective and high-performance drones to enhance air superiority missions. The collaboration between the selected vendors and the Air Force signifies a strategic partnership to develop cutting-edge autonomous aircraft for national defense.