Washington D.C. – The United States Air Force has officially selected two companies, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries, to construct its inaugural fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The decision, announced on June 17, marks a significant step towards integrating advanced human-machine teaming into future aerial warfare. The selected drone models, previously designated as prototypes YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, will now transition to production as the FQ-42A and FQ-44A, respectively.
Both General Atomics and Anduril have been awarded engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and production contracts. These agreements mandate the delivery of at least 150 CCAs combined by the end of the current decade, forming the foundational increment of the Air Force’s ambitious program.
In parallel with the hardware contracts, the Air Force also announced competitive production options for the critical mission autonomy software that will enable these CCAs to operate. Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace were selected from a broader vendor pool that included prominent defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. This dual-track procurement strategy underscores the service’s intent to separate hardware development from software innovation, aiming for greater agility and adaptability.
Col. Timothy Helfrich, the Air Force’s portfolio acquisition executive for fighters and advanced aircraft, highlighted the strategic importance of the CCA program in a conference call with reporters. “We see CCA as representing the next evolution of airpower,” Helfrich stated. “It is our first instance of taking human-machine teaming into the aviation world…and being able to drive it operationally. When paired with our manned fighters, we can extend reach, increase survivability, and generate the mass that is necessary in combat in a highly contested environment.”
The Air Force’s long-term vision for its CCA fleet is substantial, aiming for approximately 1,000 aircraft of various types and complexities. These semi-autonomous drones are designed to augment and accompany crewed fighters, such as the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, the F-22A Raptor, and the forthcoming sixth-generation F-47. Their operational roles are diverse, encompassing strike missions, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or jamming operations, all performed with minimal direct input from pilots in the accompanying manned aircraft. The initial increment of CCAs is expected to possess a combat radius of at least 700 nautical miles, significantly enhancing the operational reach of strike packages.
The journey to this production phase began in April 2024, when the Air Force awarded initial contracts to General Atomics and Anduril to continue designing, building, and testing their proposed CCA models – the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively. Throughout 2025, both models underwent rigorous ground and flight testing, demonstrating their capabilities and readiness for further development. Colonel Helfrich clarified that the recently awarded production contracts are distinct from these earlier design and testing agreements. The Air Force re-solicited all five companies that originally bid on the CCA program, including industry giants Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, ultimately reaffirming its confidence in the initial round’s winners.
With the transition to production, the “Y” prefix, signifying a prototype aircraft, has been dropped, officially renaming the drones as the FQ-42A and FQ-44A. While the production models have undergone refinements to meet evolving operational needs, Colonel Helfrich confirmed they retain the fundamental designs proven during prototyping.
Industry leaders expressed enthusiasm for the awards. David Alexander, President of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, remarked, “This is an exciting day for our company and the nation. Moving to production on FQ-42A is the result of an extraordinary partnership and many years of investments between General Atomics and the U.S. Air Force. We’ve been preparing for this order, and manufacturing is already well underway.” Mark Shushnar, Vice President for Autonomous Airpower at Anduril, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We have been refining, testing, and iterating on our production system, in parallel with aircraft development, for the past two years. We have already implemented our full rate production processes and tooling on prototype aircraft, identifying and addressing issues during prototyping to streamline the transition into production.”
While the precise financial value of these CCA contracts remains classified, Colonel Helfrich indicated that the Air Force is meeting or exceeding its stated cost objective: for each CCA to cost approximately one-third of an F-35, translating to less than $30 million per aircraft. The current contracts encompass the first three production lots of CCAs, with future contracts anticipated for subsequent lots within the initial increment. The division of these lots between Anduril and General Atomics, including specific quantities and costs per aircraft, will be determined later, contingent on factors such as delivery speed, capability, and scalability.
The Air Force intends to continue utilizing innovative acquisition strategies to ensure rapid contract awards and technological development while maintaining cost efficiency. A core element of this approach is the “software sold separately” strategy, which uncouples the procurement of the CCA’s physical hardware from its mission autonomy software. This method aims to secure “agile, easily updatable software” that can integrate seamlessly with “state-of-the-art physical platforms,” effectively breaking traditional procurement molds, according to a service statement.
The air vehicle contracts were awarded four months ahead of schedule, a testament to the advanced maturity of both Anduril’s and General Atomics’ CCA designs. “We are moving with urgency on this program, and that is urgency with purpose,” Colonel Helfrich emphasized. “It is important for us to deliver [CCA] capability to the warfighter.”
In selecting the vendors, the Air Force evaluated their ability to meet stringent schedule, cost, and performance requirements. The decision to proceed with two primary hardware vendors from the outset was deliberate, driven by a belief that continuous competition fosters superior outcomes in terms of schedule, cost, and performance. Colonel Helfrich confirmed that both General Atomics and Anduril demonstrated this capability. He also addressed an April crash of a General Atomics YFQ-42A during a test flight in California, stating that the incident, which led to a temporary six-week pause in testing, did not influence the Air Force’s decision to award production contracts to both firms.
Regarding the autonomy software, Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace each received a six-month contract line item number (CLIN) to advance their mission autonomy software towards the Air Force’s initial operating capability (IOC) criteria. Following this initial period, the Air Force plans a down-selection process, potentially narrowing the field to two, then ultimately one vendor for subsequent six-month options. The final selection for the primary mission autonomy software is anticipated by summer 2027, by which time the chosen company will need to have achieved IOC. Colonel Helfrich also noted that the broader mission autonomy contract offers various opportunities for the six vendors in the pool, including future command-and-control projects, providing the Air Force maximum flexibility and sustained competition for software licenses.
“There’s quite a bit going on in the mission autonomy contract, because we wanted to provide max flexibility and keep continuous competition,” Helfrich concluded.
Why This Matters
The U.S. Air Force’s commitment to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program represents a pivotal shift in military aviation strategy with far-reaching implications. This initiative is not merely about acquiring new drones; it signifies a fundamental reorientation towards human-machine teaming and artificial intelligence as core tenets of future airpower.
Shifting Military Doctrine: The integration of semi-autonomous CCAs alongside manned aircraft like the F-35 and F-22 fundamentally changes how air combat missions will be conceived and executed. These drones will act as loyal wingmen, extending the reach, lethality, and survivability of human pilots without exposing more personnel to risk. This “mass-without-manpower” approach is critical for operating in highly contested environments, particularly against peer adversaries such as China and Russia, where numerical superiority and advanced air defenses pose significant challenges. It signifies a move away from relying solely on exquisite, costly manned platforms towards a more distributed, adaptable, and affordable force structure.
Technological Leap: The program is a major catalyst for advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, and networked warfare. The “software sold separately” strategy is particularly important here, as it acknowledges the rapid pace of software development compared to hardware. By decoupling these elements, the Air Force aims to ensure its autonomous systems can be quickly updated and adapted to new threats and missions, keeping pace with technological evolution. This approach could set a new standard for defense procurement across various domains.
Economic and Industrial Impact: The selection of both established defense contractor General Atomics and agile newcomer Anduril highlights a strategic effort to foster competition and innovation within the defense industrial base. This encourages not only traditional giants but also newer tech companies to contribute, potentially accelerating development cycles and driving down costs. The stated cost target of less than $30 million per CCA—a fraction of a manned fighter—underscores a conscious effort towards greater affordability, enabling the Air Force to procure a larger number of aircraft and project power more efficiently.
Global Geopolitical Implications: The successful deployment of a robust CCA fleet would significantly enhance U.S. air superiority and deterrence capabilities globally, particularly in regions like the Indo-Pacific. It would serve as a powerful signal of American technological leadership and military adaptation. Other nations are closely observing these developments, and the U.S. program could spur similar investments in autonomous warfare capabilities worldwide, potentially leading to a new arms race in AI-driven military technology. The ability to deploy a large, adaptable force at a lower cost could reshape global power balances and influence future conflict scenarios.