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● TRACKER Updated 6d ago · 36 sources tracked

Air Force advances future of air superiority with CCA contracts

The US Air Force continues development of AI-piloted drones under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, with production contracts already issued to Anduril and General Atomics for Increment 1. The service intends to select providers for the second batch of aircraft next year. Parallel efforts to upgrade fighter propulsion are advancing, with Pratt & Whitney scheduling a critical design review for the F135 engine core upgrade in August. These efforts combine to shift air superiority toward a mix of crewed fighters and autonomous wingmen.

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What changed

Pratt & Whitney scheduled a critical design review for the F135 engine core upgrade in August.

Live updates

  1. Air Force Progresses Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program

    The US Air Force continues development of AI-piloted drones under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, with production contracts already issued to Anduril and General Atomics for Increment 1. The service intends to select providers for the second batch of aircraft next year. Parallel efforts to upgrade fighter propulsion are advancing, with Pratt & Whitney scheduling a critical design review for the F135 engine core upgrade in August. These efforts combine to shift air superiority toward a mix of crewed fighters and autonomous wingmen.

    Why it matters

    The CCA program aims to reduce pilot risk and increase mass by pairing human pilots with autonomous drones. This strategy integrates AI-driven platforms into existing fighter wings to maintain a competitive edge in contested airspace.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Pratt & Whitney will conduct a critical design review for the F135 engine core upgrade in August

    What to watch next

    • The downselection process for the second batch of CCA aircraft next year
    • The completion of the CCA Increment 2 concept refinement phase by May 2027
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. www.aviationtoday.com — Robot Fighter Jets Hit Major Milestones
    2. www.aviationtoday.com — F135 Engine Core Upgrade Set For Key Design Review Next Month, As CCA Engine Picture Clarifies
    3. breakingdefense.com — JIATF-401 awards CACI $500M for non-kinetic cUAS
    4. www.govconwire.com — CACI’s SkyValor Drone Defense System Selected for Deployment Under $500M C-UAS IDIQ Contract
    confidence 90%

  2. Air Force Advances CCA Program with New Contracts and Plans

    The US Air Force has issued production contracts for Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft to General Atomics and Anduril. The program aims to develop AI-piloted drones to fly with crewed fighters. The Air Force plans to downselect for the second CCA batch next year. The concept refinement phase of CCA Increment 2 could wrap by May 2027.

    What's confirmed:

    • The US Air Force issued production contracts in June 2026 for Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
    • General Atomics and Anduril will build over 150 AI-piloted drones to fly with crewed fighters.
    • The program separates hardware and autonomy software procurement to increase system agility.
    • A separate competition to replace the MQ-9A Reaper is expected to kick off a concept refinement stage early in the next fiscal year.
    • The concept refinement phase of CCA Increment 2 could wrap by May 2027.
    • Top officials do not expect radical design changes for Increment 2 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. Air Force plans downselect for second CCA batch next year
    2. Up to six designs could move ahead in Air Force’s next robot-wingman effort
    3. Iran war ‘accelerated’ key tanker connectivity upgrades, top Air Force officials say
    4. Second-Generation U.S. Autonomous Fighters May Look Like The First
    confidence 100%

  3. Air Force Awards First CCA Production Contracts to Anduril and General Atomics

    The U.S. Air Force issued production contracts in June 2026 for Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft. General Atomics and Anduril will build over 150 AI-piloted drones to fly with crewed fighters. The program separates hardware and autonomy software procurement to increase system agility.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts in June 2026 to Anduril and General Atomics for Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
    • General Atomics will produce the FQ-42A and Anduril will produce the FQ-44A.
    • The Air Force intends to build over 150 AI-piloted loyal wingman drones.
    • The program separates the procurement of air vehicle hardware from mission autonomy software.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The Air Force plans to deploy approximately 1,000 combat-capable CCAs.
    • Contracts for the program were also awarded to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Shield AI.
    Sources used for this update (8)
    1. U.S. Air Force Taps Two Vendors to Build AI Fighter Drones
    2. US Air Force Awards First Production Contracts for Collaborative Combat ...
    3. US Air Force Awards CCA Contracts to Multiple Vendors
    4. June drone digest: Landmark CCA contract and deep-strike capability ...
    5. Air Force Advances Future Air Superiority with CCA Contracts
    6. U.S. Air Force Awards Contracts for Unmanned AI-Powered Fighter Jets
    7. General Atomics and Anduril win U.S. Air Force autonomous fighter
    8. Air Force Archives - Defense Daily
    confidence 90%

  4. Air Force moves to production for Collaborative Combat Aircraft

    The U.S. Air Force has issued production contracts for the Increment 1 phase of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. These awards cover both the air vehicles and the mission autonomy software. Separate efforts are underway to select designs for a future batch of drone wingmen.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force awarded contracts for CCA production and mission autonomy software for Increment 1.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The Air Force selected 9 vendors for a second round of drone wingmen concepts.
    • Selected designs for the next group of CCAs represent a "broad spectrum" of concepts.
    Sources used for this update (2)
    1. U.S. Air Force Awards CCA Production Contracts - The Aviationist
    2. CCA Round 2: Air Force picks 9 vendors for next batch of drone wingmen
    confidence 100%

  5. Air Force Awards Production Contracts for CCA Increment 1

    The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. General Atomics and Anduril Industries will provide the air vehicles. The awards also cover mission autonomy software.

    What's confirmed:

    • General Atomics and Anduril Industries received production contracts for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
    • The Air Force awarded production contracts for the FQ-42A and FQ-44 aircraft.
    • Contracts include Increment 1 air vehicles and mission autonomy software.
    Sources used for this update (6)
    1. USAF awards GA-ASI and Anduril Increment 1 CCA production contracts
    2. Air Force advances future with CCA contracts
    3. U.S. Air Force Awards Production Contracts for FQ-42A and FQ-44A ...
    4. Air Force Awards CCA Increment 1 Contracts — Collaborative Combat ...
    5. U.S. Air Force Awards GA-ASI Production Contract for FQ-42A ...
    6. FAA awards software and AI contract as part of air traffic control modernization
    confidence 100%

  6. Air Force Names Specific Aircraft for CCA Production

    The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts for Increment 1 air vehicles. General Atomics and Anduril Industries are the selected providers. The program uses a strategy that separates hardware from autonomy software to accelerate updates.

    What's confirmed:

    • General Atomics received a CCA production contract for the FQ-42.
    • Anduril received a CCA production contract for the FQ-44.
    Sources used for this update (2)
    1. GA-ASI, Anduril Win Air Force CCA Production Contracts
    2. US Advances Drone Warfare
    confidence 100%

  7. Air Force Awards First CCA Production Contracts to Anduril and General Atomics

    The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts for Increment 1 air vehicles to Anduril Industries and General Atomics. The program separates hardware procurement from mission autonomy software to allow for faster updates. This strategy aims to field advanced combat capabilities rapidly.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force selected Anduril Industries and General Atomics to build drone wingmen for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
    • The Department of the Air Force awarded contracts for Increment 1 air vehicles and mission autonomy software.
    • The Air Force is decoupling hardware from software to ensure platforms receive agile, updatable software.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The Air Force will choose between Fury and Dark Merlin drone combat jets.
    Sources used for this update (5)
    1. Air Force Goes Split Buy: Fury and Dark Merlin Both Enter CCA Production
    2. US Air Force awards first CCA production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril
    3. US Air Force selects Anduril and General Atomics to build CCA drone wingmen
    4. Air Force advances future of air superiority with CCA contracts
    5. Anduril Wins Production Contract for U.S. Air Force CCA Program
    confidence 100%

  8. Air Force awards CCA production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril for drone wingmen

    The U.S. Air Force has finalized production contracts with General Atomics and Anduril for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, marking a shift from prototype development to full-scale manufacturing of semi-autonomous drone wingmen. The contracts cover Increment 1 air vehicles, with additional competition ongoing for mission autonomy software. The move accelerates the Air Force’s push for next-generation air superiority capabilities. Six other companies remain in the running for autonomy software roles.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts to General Atomics and Anduril Industries for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, transitioning the initiative from prototype to full-scale manufacturing.
    • General Atomics will produce the FQ-42A variant of the CCA, with contracts officially announced on June 17, 2026.
    • Anduril has also secured a production contract for its CCA design, with the Air Force prioritizing semi-autonomous drone wingmen to enhance air superiority.
    • The contracts include Increment 1 air vehicles, representing the first operational CCA fleet for the Air Force.
    • Six other companies will compete to develop autonomy software for the CCA program, with the final selection still under evaluation.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The Air Force may face delays in integrating autonomy software, as vendors remain in competition.
    Sources used for this update (13)
    1. Air Force advances future of air superiority with CCA contracts
    2. US Air Force awards production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril for drone wingmen
    3. Shield AI awarded U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft mission autonomy
    4. Anduril Wins Production Contract for U.S. Air Force CCA Program
    5. Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen
    6. USAF Awards CCA Production Contracts To Anduril, General Atomics
    7. USAF Secures CCA Contracts for Air Superiority | Mirage News
    8. Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen
    9. Under Trump, decision on Air Force’s NGAD will shape fleet for decades
    10. Anduril, General Atomics get Air Force contracts to build first drone wingmen
    11. U.S. Air Force Awards GA-ASI Production Contract for FQ-42A CCA
    12. US Air Force awards production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril for drone wingmen
    confidence 98%