US Air Force to Shortlist Six Companies for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
- Published
- Source
- InterestingEngineering.com
The US Air Force (USAF) is advancing its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, aiming to select up to six companies from a pool of nine competing for the next generation of AI-enabled combat drones. These drones, designed to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft, will enhance capabilities without replacing human pilots.
This initiative is significant as it reflects a global trend towards integrating autonomous systems into military operations, thereby increasing firepower while minimizing risks to pilots. The CCA program focuses on developing drones that act as 'loyal wingmen' to aircraft like the F-35 and future Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, with the competition currently in the concept refinement stage.
Looking ahead, the USAF will evaluate various aircraft concepts over the next 10 months, with the potential for unsuccessful bidders to re-enter the competition in later phases. Additionally, the USAF is investing in new aircraft engines to support future drone designs, ensuring multiple propulsion options are available for the next generation of autonomous combat aircraft. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
US’ ‘loyal wingman’ program: 6 companies to be shortlisted by Air Force for combat drones
InterestingEngineering.com · Jijo MalayilThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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