In a significant move to augment its air combat capabilities, the US Air Force has selected Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to advance into the next phase of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. These autonomous drone wingmen are set to redefine aerial warfare by seamlessly integrating with manned fighter jets such as the F-35 and the future Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) system, providing a tactical advantage with lower costs, but comparable capabilities.
This pivotal selection for the development-for-production phase was announced on April 24, wherein these two firms outperformed defense stalwarts such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing. “The CCA program redefines the future of aviation and will shape the USAF acquisition model to deliver affordable combat mass to the warfighter at the speed of relevancy.”
GA-ASI brings its expertise with the successful XQ-67A prototype, which completed test flights earlier in 2024. This unmanned system, embodying the “genus/species” concept, paves the way for the efficient production of multiple aircraft variants from a common core chassis, maximizing production efficiency and minimizing development timelines.
“We executed an acquisition and funding strategy for CCA with early operator, technologist, acquirer, and industry teaming to quickly iterate requirements given our fielding timelines,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said in a statement. “Continuous competition is a cornerstone at every stage of this program. The transparency and teamwork between industry and government really accelerated how quickly we could mature the CCA program.”
Anduril, a newer player with its Lattice operating system, has emerged as a significant non-traditional defense company, with CEO Brian Schimpf emphasizing the necessity of a “fast-moving, forward-looking approach to field autonomous systems at speed and scale.”
The Air Force emphasizes continuous industry collaboration with over 20 companies remaining in the partner pool, ensuring a competitive edge in the program’s development. This collaboration will be instrumental in delivering at least 1,000 CCAs, with the Air Force aiming to field a fully operational capability before the decade’s end.
The next phase involves creating detailed designs, manufacturing, and conducting flight tests, with a competitive production decision for the first increment of CCAs slated for fiscal 2026. The Air Force has requested $557 million for the program in its fiscal 2025 budget request and plans to spend nearly $9 billion through fiscal 2029.
Relevant articles:
– US Air Force Picks Anduril, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to Forge Ahead with Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sofrep, 04/26/2024
– Anduril, General Atomics move into next phase of Air Force CCA drone program, DefenseScoop, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 23:31:02 GMT
– Here are the two companies creating drone wingmen for the US Air Force, Defense News, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 21:10:21 GMT
– Anduril and General Atomics to Develop New Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Air Force, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 02:23:58 GMT
– U.S. Air Force Awards General Atomics Contract Through CCA Program, Kevin Cramer, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 22:42:17 GMT