US Air Force Develops Collaborative Combat Aircraft with Integrated Weapons Systems

The US Air Force has begun flight testing with a drone wingman carrying an inert weapon underwing. Anduril’s YFQ-44A and General Atomics’ YFQ-42A are part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to develop drones for future combat. The Air Force is progressing rapidly through its development, with a focus on integrating weapons systems and ensuring human authority over weapon release decisions. Breaking Defense reports that the development teams are moving faster than traditional programs.