Air Force awards production contracts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft to General Atomics and Anduril
CCA is one of the most visible autonomous-flight programs in military aviation. While it is not directly a civil aviation story, it will shape how autonomy, detect-and-avoid, and human-machine teaming standards evolve—technologies that will eventually influence civil uncrewed aircraft and advanced air mobility rules.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts for the first phase of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril. GA-ASI will produce the FQ-42A, which first flew in August 2025 about 15 months after contract award. Anduril will produce the FQ-44, which first flew in October 2025. Both companies describe the aircraft as semi-autonomous, modular, and designed for rapid integration of mission systems and autonomy software. The CCA program is intended to add uncrewed fighter mass to the Air Force's tactical air fleet.
Sources
- U.S Air Force Awards GA-ASI Production Contract for FQ-42A CCA — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- Anduril Wins Production Contract for U.S. Air Force CCA Program — Anduril Industries
- Air Force Awards Uncrewed Fighter Contracts — AVweb