US Air Force Enhances CCA Program with Automated Flying Software
The U.S. Air Force has made significant strides in enhancing its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program through the integration of advanced automated flying software. This milestone indicates the effectiveness of the service’s strategy, centered around the use of modular open systems architecture.
Successful Integration of Autonomous Software
On Thursday, the Air Force announced the successful incorporation of government-owned autonomous software into its prototype CCAs. This development underscores the Air Force’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities.
CCAs are designed to operate semi-autonomously alongside manned aircraft, including the F-35A and the next-generation F-47 fighter. The Air Force aims to deploy a fleet of at least 1,000 CCAs in various configurations, enabling them to perform diverse missions such as
- Strike operations
- Reconnaissance
- Electronic warfare
- Decoys to attract enemy fire
Key Partnerships and Innovations
In 2024, the Air Force partnered with General Atomics and Anduril Industries to develop their first CCAs—designated YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A. Ground testing for these models commenced in spring 2025, followed by flight tests later that year.
Both aircraft leverage a system known as Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) to integrate their autonomous software. This system allows the mission software to operate independently from the hardware, facilitating easier technology integration.
Enhanced Mission Capabilities
Col. Timothy Helfrich, the Air Force’s portfolio acquisition executive, emphasized the importance of A-GRA in maintaining a competitive ecosystem. He noted that this approach enables rapid deployment of the best algorithms to the warfighter without being tied to a single vendor.
The YFQ-44A is expected to collaborate with Shield AI’s autonomous programming in the near future. General Atomics reported that their YFQ-42A successfully completed its first semi-autonomous airborne mission, thanks to the integration of innovative software from RTX subsidiary Collins Aerospace, known as Sidekick Collaborative Mission Autonomy.
Key Achievements
Key achievements in the CCA program include:
- A-GRA implementation for seamless software integration
- YFQ-42A’s successful semi-autonomous mission execution
- Collaboration with Collins Aerospace for enhanced operational capability
General Atomics expressed excitement about this collaboration, stating that operational excellence in unmanned aircraft technology remains a priority. Meanwhile, Anduril’s Jason Levin indicated that the YFQ-44A’s design prioritizes modularity, allowing for various mission configurations and software integrations.
This initiative aims not only to produce cutting-edge CCAs but also to maintain an adaptive and responsive force capable of meeting evolving threats in the battlefield.
