Arlington, Virginia – The US Air Force has announced their selection of Anduril and General Atomics to advance their autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft concepts, bypassing offerings from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. In an unconventional move, the companies not chosen will still have opportunities to vie for producing the aircraft.
According to the Air Force’s press release, Anduril and General Atomics will receive funding for detailed designs, manufacturing, and testing of production-representative test articles under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The non-selected companies will remain part of the industry vendor pool, allowing them to compete for future contracts.
Before the official launch of the CCA program, Air Force officials considered separating design and production to attract companies with advanced aircraft design capabilities. The decision to allow non-selected entrants to compete for production, albeit at their own expense, emphasizes the Air Force’s commitment to fostering a competitive industry landscape.
Anduril, a newcomer in unmanned aircraft technology, acquired Blue Force Technologies and its “Fury” stealthy aggressor drone program in 2023. Conversely, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a seasoned industry player, has a long legacy of building remotely-piloted drones for the Air Force. Their respective proposals for CCAs showcase innovative concepts geared towards enhancing mission capabilities.
The selected concepts mark the beginning of “Increment 1” in the CCA program, with plans to select a final design by 2026. The Air Force envisions building between 1,000 and 2,000 CCAs by the mid-2030s to address evolving threats, particularly from adversaries like China. The initial focus of CCAs will involve carrying additional munitions for existing aircraft, enhancing their combat effectiveness.
Lt. Gen. Richard G. Moore, Jr., emphasized the importance of augmenting existing platforms with CCAs to increase firepower and expand mission capabilities. While plans for “Increment 2” are in the works, the specifics of those platforms are yet to be defined publicly. The collaborative efforts between the Air Force and industry partners underscore the rapid advancements in the CCA program’s development.
Looking ahead, the Air Force is exploring international partnerships and potential Foreign Military Sales to bolster the CCA program’s scale and interoperability. The CCA initiative aligns with the broader NGAD program, reflecting a strategic shift towards incorporating advanced autonomous systems into future defense operations. Overall, the selection of Anduril and General Atomics signifies a critical step towards revolutionizing aviation and enhancing combat readiness.