Air Force begins adding weapons to CCA drone flight tests
The service recently started flying Anduril’s YFQ-44A prototype with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles attached to it.
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A YFQ-44A, part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, undergoes an undated captive carry test at a California test location. This test phase uses inert munitions to methodically validate weapons integration, structural performance and safety, ensuring the platform can safely carry external stores. (Courtesy Air Force photo) Emerging Tech -
YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline at a California test location as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign. (Courtesy Air Force photo) Emerging Tech Air Force begins testing mission autonomy package for CCA prototypes
General Atomics and Anduril are working with Collins Aerospace and Shield AI, respectively, to integrate mission autonomy software onto their CCA prototypes and conduct semi-autonomous flights.
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A YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft takes off during flight testing at a California test location. (Courtesy photo) Weapons Marine Corps brings General Atomics into CCA program for autonomy development
The Marines will use General Atomics’ YFQ-42A aircraft to evaluate how the service’s future loyal wingman drones will integrate with and fly alongside crewed fighter jets.
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An XQ-58A Valkyrie flies next to an F-35. (Marine Corps photo) Emerging Tech Marine Corps picks Northrop Grumman, Kratos team to build CCA drones
Northrop Grumman and Kratos have received a $231.5 million deal to deliver the Marine Corps’ first loyal wingman drone under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft program.
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An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright) IT Pentagon begins enforcing CMMC compliance, but readiness gaps remain
Experts told DefenseScoop that readiness gaps are fueled by CMMC’s controversial history, misconceptions of what the rule change means and challenges in proving compliance.
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Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, left, swears in Gen. Ken Wilsbach as the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2025. Mrs. Cindy Wilsbach joined her husband during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stuart Bright) Emerging Tech Gen. Wilsbach sworn in as Air Force chief, pledges to advance modernization and readiness
“We must guarantee that tomorrow’s Airmen inherit an Air Force that can win,” Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach wrote in his first letter to the force.
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A YFQ-44 Collaborative Combat Aircraft takes off during flight testing at a California test location. (Courtesy photo) Emerging Tech Anduril conducts first flight test of Air Force CCA drone prototype
Both Anduril and General Atomics have now moved into the live flight test stage of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
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U.S. Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks to Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander and pilot, following the team’s certification flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 24, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster) Tech Gen. Wilsbach, newly confirmed by the Senate, faces major challenges as Air Force chief
The biggest challenge to Air Force readiness is the tension between sustaining legacy systems and investing in future capabilities under constrained budgets, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told lawmakers.
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Rendering of X-BAT (Credit: Shield AI) Emerging Tech Shield AI reveals VTOL autonomous fighter jet dubbed X-BAT
The company expects to conduct first vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) flight tests of X-BAT sometime next year.
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Artists rendering of the Boeing Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (Credit: Boeing) Emerging Tech The Army wants its own fleet of loyal wingman drones
“As we go forward, we’re watching closely in our experimentation to develop a full requirement [and] potentially deliver a capability over the next couple of years,” said Brig. Gen. Cain Baker.