US Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)

The US Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program develops autonomous unmanned aircraft systems to team with fifth- and sixth-generation manned fighters like the NGAD and F-35, enhancing situational awareness, lethality, and survivability in contested environments as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative. Currently in development, Increment 1 prototypes from General Atomics (YFQ-42A) and Anduril (YFQ-44A) completed critical design reviews in 2024, began ground testing in 2025 with flights that year, and integrated autonomous software; production decisions are planned for FY2026, with early operational capability by late 2020s and IOC around 2030. Strategically, CCAs enable affordable mass to maintain air superiority, initially planning 100-150 for Increment 1 (potentially up to 2,500 total), with two per manned aircraft.