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Anduril Wins Production Contract for U.S. Air Force CCA Program

The U.S. Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics on June 17 to produce the FQ-44 and FQ-42A drone wingmen. The program aims to field over 150 combat-capable aircraft by 2030. Production contracts include separate awards for mission autonomy software.

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What changed

New details confirm the June 17 award date, the 150-unit target by the decade's end, and the decoupling of software from hardware procurement.

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

    The U.S. Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics on June 17 to produce the FQ-44 and FQ-42A drone wingmen. The program aims to field over 150 combat-capable aircraft by 2030. Production contracts include separate awards for mission autonomy software.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts for Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft to Anduril and General Atomics on June 17.
    • The selected aircraft for production are the FQ-44 and FQ-42A.
    • The Air Force intends to procure more than 150 combat-capable drones by the end of the decade.
    • The program has awarded separate production contracts for mission autonomy software.
    • The CCA program is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The unit cost ceiling for the drones is near one-third of an F-35A.
    • Production contracts were awarded four months ahead of schedule.
    • Lockheed Martin is one of six companies that received mission autonomy production contracts.
    confidence 95%

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

    The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contracts to Anduril and General Atomics for its first generation of uncrewed combat jets. These Increment 1 aircraft will be the FQ-44 and FQ-42A. The program utilizes open architecture software to power the drone wingmen.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts to Anduril and General Atomics for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
    • Anduril will produce the FQ-44 and General Atomics will produce the FQ-42A.
    • The Air Force awarded these contracts four months ahead of schedule.
    • The drones will use Shield AI Hivemind and Collins Sidekick for autonomy.
    • The service is using open architecture software for the uncrewed fighter effort.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • Full-scale manufacturing of the drones will enhance combat capabilities by the end of the decade.
    confidence 95%

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

    The U.S. Air Force has selected Anduril and General Atomics to produce the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone wingmen. These autonomous systems are designed to support air superiority and strike deep into enemy territory. Shield AI was also awarded a production contract for mission autonomy.

    What's confirmed:

    • The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts to Anduril and General Atomics for Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
    • General Atomics will produce the FQ-42 aircraft.
    • Anduril will produce the FQ-44 aircraft.
    • Shield AI received a production contract for CCA mission autonomy.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • Software vendors for the drone wingmen are still in a competition.
    • The Air Force will move the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A into production.
    • The Off-Board Sensing Station drone program has been folded into the CCA effort.
    confidence 95%