The US Air Force has selected General Atomics and Anduril to design, construct, and trial production-representative articles for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
CCA seeks approximately 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles to take the role of “loyal wingman” for crewed platforms, including fighter jets, bombers, and other aircraft.
The effort is part of the air force’s Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems strategy to establish cost-effective manned-unmanned airborne solutions to counter future threats.
“Just over two years ago, we announced our intent, as part of our Operational Imperatives, to pursue collaborative combat aircraft,” US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.
“Now, following the enactment of the fiscal year 2024 budget, we’re exercising option awards to two companies to construct production representative test articles.”
“The progress we’ve made is a testament to the invaluable collaboration with industry, whose investment alongside the Air Force has propelled this initiative forward. It’s truly encouraging to witness the rapid execution of this program.”
‘Continuous Competition’
The US Department of Defense tapped five companies to work on the CCA’s initial stage in December 2023.
The air force wrote that firms not chosen in the recent decision will join an industry partner vendor pool of over 20 organizations that will serve as sub-contractors for associated tasks.
“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,” Kendall stated.
“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.”
Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
The US Air Force will complete a production design decision for the CCA’s first formal phase in 2026 and field the resulting fully operational aircraft by the end of the decade.
The agency said that any vendor may compete for the CCA Phase 1 production contract. In addition, the US will explore international corporations to support the program, including through foreign military sales, to maintain affordable mass production as well as interoperability between allies.
Meanwhile, work to initiate the CCA’s second phase later this year is underway. All current and future industry partners from the CCA vendor pool can also compete for this stage.