Key Takeaways

  • The US Air Force has awarded nine companies contracts for an early stage of the second round of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
  • The successful firms will now compete for a prototyping deal, which could be offered to more than one company.
  • The CCA program aims to field drone wingmen that can fly alongside manned aircraft in battle.
  • The awards revealed today are for the program’s next round, or Increment 2.
  • The contracts were issued for a nascent phase of Increment 2 called ‘Concept Refinement.’
US Air Force Anduril General Atomics Boeing Lockheed Martin Northrop Grumman RTX Shield AI

Strategic Implications

This selection may indicate the Air Force is prioritizing flexibility and capabilities in its drone wingmen design. The deployment of multiple vendors suggests a focus on exploring different approaches to optimize cost-effectiveness while maintaining operational effectiveness. The program’s success could have implications for the broader military services, particularly with regards to interoperability and multi-domain operations.