(http://gmpg.org/xfn/11) (https://www.twz.com/xmlrpc.php) (../wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fury-CCA-1.jpg@quality=85)   (https://fonts.googleapis.com/)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com/)  Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury CCA Has Flown Alongside F-35s  (andurils-yfq-44a-fury-cca-has-flown-alongside-f-35s.html)                       (https://btloader.com/)  (https://static.chartbeat.com/)  (../_static/index.html@%253F%252Fwp-content%252Fclient-mu-plugins%252Frecurrent%252Fdist%252Fcss%252Ffrontend.css,%252Fwp-content%252Fthemes%252Ftwz%252Fcss%252Fapp.css%253Fm=1789403808.css)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Source+Serif+4%3Aital%2Copsz%2Cwght%400%2C8..60%2C200..900%3B1%2C8..60%2C200..900&display=swap&ver=0.1.0)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Source+Serif+4%253Aital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,200..900%3B1,8..60,200..900&display=swap&ver=0.1.0.css)  (../wp-content/client-mu-plugins/recurrent/dist/css/lightbox.css@m=1789403805g.css)                 (https://www.twz.com/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/air/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/drones/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/loyal-wingman/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/unmanned/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/air/andurils-yfq-44a-fury-cca-has-flown-alongside-f-35s.md) (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=32)  (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=167)  (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=167)      We have updated our (https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy . Please review to learn more. By continuing to use our services, you agree to these updates.   ×      (https://www.twz.com/) (TWZ Logo)    (https://www.facebook.com/thewarzonewire)       (https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire)       (https://www.instagram.com/thewarzonewire)         (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-war-zone/)       (https://www.youtube.com/@thewarzone)        (https://www.twz.com/feed)                      (https://www.twz.com/latest) Latest  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear  (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Newsletter     Search for: () (Search...)               (https://www.twz.com/latest) Latest  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features          (https://www.twz.com/category/artificial-intelligence) Artificial Intelligence  (https://www.twz.com/category/bunker-talk) Bunker Talk  (https://www.twz.com/category/cyber-warfare) Cyber Warfare  (https://www.twz.com/category/espionage) Espionage  (https://www.twz.com/category/procurement) Procurement  (https://www.twz.com/category/terrorism) Terrorism  (https://www.twz.com/category/history) History  (https://www.twz.com/category/around-the-globe) Around The Globe  (https://www.twz.com/category/continuity-of-government) Continuity Of Government  (https://www.twz.com/category/bunkers-installations) Bunkers & Installations  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air          (https://www.twz.com/category/air-forces) Air Forces  (https://www.twz.com/category/airships-blimps) Airships & Blimps  (https://www.twz.com/category/military-aviation-history) Military Aviation History  (https://www.twz.com/category/naval-aviation) Naval Aviation  (https://www.twz.com/category/fighters) Fighters  (https://www.twz.com/category/attack) Attack  (https://www.twz.com/category/aggressors) Aggressors  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea          (https://www.twz.com/category/navies) Navies  (https://www.twz.com/category/naval-history) Naval History  (https://www.twz.com/category/amphibious-operations) Amphibious Operations  (https://www.twz.com/category/us-marine-corps) U.S. Marine Corps  (https://www.twz.com/category/carriers) Carriers  (https://www.twz.com/category/big-deck-amphibious-assault-ships) Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships  (https://www.twz.com/category/amphibious-assault-ships) Amphibious Assault Ships  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea-bases) Sea Bases  (https://www.twz.com/category/cruisers) Cruisers  (https://www.twz.com/category/destroyers) Destroyers  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land          (https://www.twz.com/category/armies) Armies  (https://www.twz.com/category/land-warfare-history) Land Warfare History  (https://www.twz.com/category/tanks) Tanks  (https://www.twz.com/category/armored-vehicles) Armored Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/light-vehicles) Light Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/unmanned-ground-vehicles) Unmanned Ground Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/artillery) Artillery  (https://www.twz.com/category/tactical-ballistic-missiles) Tactical Ballistic Missiles  (https://www.twz.com/category/mrbms-irbms) MRBMs/IRBMs  (https://www.twz.com/category/land-based-conventional-hypersonic-weapons) Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons  (https://www.twz.com/category/anti-aircraft-artillery) Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)  (https://www.twz.com/category/man-portable-air-defense-systems) Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS)  (https://www.twz.com/category/counter-unmanned-aerial-vehicles) Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space          (https://www.twz.com/category/us-space-force) U.S. Space Force  (https://www.twz.com/category/war-in-space) War In Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nasa) NASA  (https://www.twz.com/category/russian-space-program) Russian Space Program  (https://www.twz.com/category/chinese-space-program) Chinese Space Program  (https://www.twz.com/category/orbital-systems) Orbital Systems  (https://www.twz.com/category/anti-satellite-capabilities) Anti-Satellite Capabilities  (https://www.twz.com/category/launch-vehicles) Launch Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear          (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-command-and-control) Nuclear Command And Control  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-power) Nuclear Power  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-propulsion) Nuclear Propulsion  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-policy) Nuclear Policy  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-history) Nuclear History  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-proliferation) Nuclear Proliferation  (https://www.twz.com/category/air-launched-nuclear-missles) Air-Launched Nuclear Missles  (https://www.twz.com/category/ground-launched-nuclear-cruise-missile) Ground-Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile  (https://www.twz.com/category/battlefield-nuclear-weapons) Battlefield Nuclear Weapons  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-warheads) Nuclear Warheads  (https://www.twz.com/category/status-6-poseidon) Status-6 Poseidon  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-bombs) Nuclear Bombs  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/rebuilding-the-arsenal-2026) Rebuilding the Arsenal  Events          (https://www.twz.com/air-space-cyber-2026) Air, Space & Cyber 2026  (https://www.twz.com/space-missile-defense-symposium-2026) SMD Symposium 2026  (https://www.twz.com/special-operations-forces-week-2026) SOF Week 2026  (https://www.twz.com/modern-day-marine-2026) Modern Day Marine 2026  (https://www.twz.com/sea-air-space-2026) Sea-Air-Space 2026  (https://www.twz.com/afa-warfare-symposium-2026) AFA Warfare Symposium 2026  (https://www.twz.com/army-aviation-association-of-america-2026) AAAA Summit 2026  (https://www.twz.com/ausa-global-force-2026) AUSA 2026  (https://www.twz.com/tailhook-event-2025) Tailhook 2025    (https://link.twz.com/join/79r/signup-war-zone) Newsletter  (https://the-war-zone-shop.fourthwall.com/) Merch  (https://www.twz.com/about) About TWZ            (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air  (https://www.twz.com/category/unmanned) Unmanned  (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft    Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury CCA Has Flown Alongside F-35s The YFQ-44 Fury has already taken to the skies alongside fifth-gen fighters as the company works toward a true crewed-uncrewed teaming demonstration. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick      Published  Sep 14, 2026 5:44 PM EDT     (andurils-yfq-44a-fury-cca-has-flown-alongside-f-35s.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens in a new tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.        (A U.S. Air Force YFQ-44A Fury aircraft, assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operation Unit, takes off for a mission flight during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 21, 2026. The flight was part of a broader ACE exercise designed to test the resilience, adaptability, and combat effectiveness of the semi-autonomous fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristal Munguia))   Staff Sgt. Kristal Munguia    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (ce0b6a4b29)  (/air/andurils-yfq-44a-fury-cca-has-flown-alongside-f-35s)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy        Anduril’s (https://www.twz.com/air/our-first-look-at-yfq-44a-fighter-drone-prototype) YFQ-44A Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) has already flown in formation alongside (https://www.twz.com/air/f-35s-quarterbacking-drones-seen-as-gateway-to-usmcs-6th-gen-fighter) F-35 fighters during U.S. Air Force testing, company executives have revealed, offering the clearest indication yet that live manned-unmanned teaming work with the fifth-generation fighter is underway. The disclosure came during a briefing by Anduril executives Jason Levin, senior vice president for Air Dominance and Strike, and Aaron Simpson, vice president for Strategy for Air Dominance and Strike, at the (https://www.afa.org/air-space-cyber-conference/) Air & Space Forces Air, Space and Cyber Symposium that TWZ is attending. The executives said the Fury flew alongside F-35s during a July exercise conducted with the Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. You can read more about that event in our past reporting (https://www.twz.com/air/fury-loyal-wingman-arrives-at-creech-afb-for-agile-combat-deployment-trials) here .  (A YFQ-44A Fury aircraft assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit taxis toward a sunshade at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 20, 2026. The CCA took part in an Agile Combat Employment exercise that provided information necessary to validate the reduced logistical footprint required to operate in remote, forward-deployed locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Renee Blundon))  A YFQ-44A Fury assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit taxis toward a sunshade at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 20, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Renee Blundon Senior Airman Renee Blundon  “We’ve already started flying in formation alongside crewed. I can even say fifth-gen fighters. F-35,” Levin said. The testing is an important step toward the Air Force’s broader vision for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, in which relatively inexpensive autonomous aircraft are intended to operate alongside and support crewed fighters in contested airspace. The executives stressed, however, that the F-35 was not yet controlling the Fury during those flights. “But they’re not controlling it from the crewed fighter yet,” Levin said. “Not yet.” Instead, the July testing involved Fury operating under its Mission Autonomy system while sharing airspace with crewed fighters, other CCAs, and other aircraft. Anduril says Air Force personnel were able to operate the autonomy system without Anduril personnel directly running the aircraft, although company personnel remained on site in a supporting role. (Lattice for Mission Autonomy: An Unfair Advantage for Unrivaled Deterrence thumbnail)  Lattice for Mission Autonomy: An Unfair Advantage for Unrivaled Deterrence       (Lattice for Mission Autonomy: An Unfair Advantage for Unrivaled Deterrence)   The company described the progression toward direct manned-unmanned teaming as a “crawl, run, build-up” process. Anduril says it has already begun work on what it calls “quarterback integration,” referring to the ability for a crewed aircraft to direct or task autonomous aircraft. That work has been conducted in hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop environments as well as on the Fury itself. “Most of those events will be coming up here in a matter of weeks or months,” Levin said when asked about the timeline for the first quarterback integration with Fury. Asked whether those events would involve live flying, the answer was unequivocal: “Yes.” (A YFQ-44A, part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, undergoes an undated captive carry test at a California test location. This test phase uses inert munitions to methodically validate weapons integration, structural performance and safety, ensuring the platform can safely carry external stores. The CCA program is a critical part of a larger, integrated system-of-systems designed to extend the reach and effectiveness of crewed aircraft, giving U.S. warfighters an overwhelming advantage in future conflicts. (Courtesy photo))  A YFQ-44A undergoes an undated captive carry test at a California test location. This test phase uses inert munitions to methodically validate weapons integration, structural performance and safety, ensuring the platform can safely carry external stores. Courtesy photo via U.S. Air Force  Secretary of the Air Force Publi  Exactly how an F-35 would control Fury remains part of that ongoing development effort. The executives pointed to work involving integration of the appropriate human-machine interfaces,(https://www.twz.com/air/f-22-raptors-will-be-first-fighters-to-control-fighter-drone-collaborative-combat-aircraft) primarily including tablet-based control from the crewed fighter, at least at first. The distinction between flying alongside an F-35 and being controlled by an F-35 is important. The former demonstrates that Fury’s aircraft and autonomy systems can operate safely in the same battlespace as a fifth-generation fighter. The latter would represent a much more significant demonstration of the operational concept behind CCAs: allowing a single crewed fighter to employ and manage additional autonomous aircraft as part of a larger force. Anduril’s July testing went beyond simple formation flying. The company said Fury was conducting Mission Autonomy flights using live sensor data and was operating in airspace shared with crewed fighters and other CCAs. Air Force operators reportedly conducted both relatively basic route and pattern work and more representative tactical scenarios. The Fury’s work with the Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit has progressed through two increasingly ambitious phases. During the first exercise in April at Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force personnel were trained to operate the aircraft and were able to launch and recover it using Anduril’s compact (https://www.anduril.com/menace-t) Menace-T setup, essentially a pair of ruggedized cases and a laptop rather than a conventional ground-control station.  By the second exercise, conducted at Creech in July, the Air Force had reduced the manpower and infrastructure required further. A single EOU operator could launch and recover the aircraft after only hours of training, while Air Force personnel independently operated Fury’s Mission Autonomy. The aircraft also flew in airspace shared with other CCAs, while the exercise demonstrated disaggregated operations and a rapid “hot reload” in which two operators replaced an (https://www.twz.com/air/yfq-44a-fury-now-flying-with-aim-120-amraam-missile) AIM-120 AMRAAM with the engine running, reducing the turnaround between sorties to single-digit minutes. (A U.S. Airman assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit loads an inert missile onto a YFQ-44A Fury aircraft at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 20, 2026. The data from the exercise will be used to develop and refine new tactics, techniques, and procedures for semi-autonomous air operations when deployed from main operating bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Renee Blundon))  A U.S. airman assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit loads an inert missile onto a YFQ-44A Fury aircraft at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 20, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Renee Blundon Senior Airman Renee Blundon  The July exercise also included a live weapons demonstration that Anduril characterized as a complete end-to-end kill chain rather than simply a captive-carry or basic weapons-release test. The Fury launched from Edwards with a single operator and received a track generated by an external source over a beyond-line-of-sight connection. That track was ingested by Anduril’s Lattice AI-infused autonomy software system, after which the operator tasked the aircraft to engage. Fury then (https://www.twz.com/air/yfq-44a-fury-fighter-drone-has-fired-its-first-aim-120-amraam-missile) launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM and guided the weapon to the target. Anduril described the test as demonstrating the complete kill chain from offboard targeting information, through the aircraft’s mission systems and operator tasking, to an actual air-to-air weapons engagement. New test footage: first missile shot from YFQ-44A.YFQ-44A executed an end-to-end, beyond-line-of-sight strike against a simulated target.The test, executed out of (https://x.com/EdwardsAFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) @EdwardsAFB , represents an important step in turning CCA into an operational capability. (https://t.co/70cRIs6uXJ) pic.twitter.com/70cRIs6uXJ  — Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) (https://x.com/anduriltech/status/2077424762490691808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) July 15, 2026    On the weapons side, the (https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-orders-both-general-atomics-fq-42-and-andurils-fq-44-into-production) production FQ-44 is being designed around four external hardpoints, allowing it to carry four AIM-120 AMRAAMs for the Air Force’s primary air-to-air mission set. Currently, the demonstration aircraft can carry two. Regardless, the company is also pursuing a much broader weapons portfolio for Fury. Executives said they have already begun integration and fit checks for 500-pound guided bombs, (https://www.twz.com/category/small-diameter-bomb) Small Diameter Bombs , low-cost cruise missiles — including Anduril’s (https://www.twz.com/air/anduril-introduces-barracuda-m-that-aims-to-disrupt-the-cruise-missile-market) Barracuda 500 offering — other air-to-air weapons, rocket pods and targeting pods. Those integrations are intended to give Fury options beyond air-to-air combat, including counter-drone, counter-cruise-missile and air-to-ground/air-surface strike missions. Anduril stressed that these are currently integration and engineering efforts rather than claims that all of those weapons have been flight-tested from Fury. The company also said additional sensors, such as a targeting pod, could be added for some of those missions. The executives acknowledged that some of the more advanced tactical capabilities remain under development and are being explored extensively in simulation. Those efforts include areas such as sensor fusion, track discrimination and tactical engagements. (A U.S. Air Force YFQ-44A Fury aircraft, assigned to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operation Unit, takes off for a mission flight during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 21, 2026. The flight was part of a broader ACE exercise designed to test the resilience, adaptability, and combat effectiveness of the semi-autonomous fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristal Munguia))  A U.S. Air Force YFQ-44A Fury takes off for a mission flight during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, July 21, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristal Munguia Staff Sgt. Kristal Munguia  The ultimate objective is an aircraft that does not require a large ground-control infrastructure or a dedicated operator for every individual sortie. As previously noted, during the July exercise, Anduril says a single Air Force operator was able to launch and recover a Fury after only hours of training, while other Air Force personnel operated the aircraft’s Mission Autonomy functions. That same exercise (https://www.twz.com/air/yfq-44-fury-fighter-drone-wraps-contested-operations-test-that-could-accelerate-its-fielding) also demonstrated what Anduril described as “disaggregated operations,” with personnel at multiple locations able to operate the same aircraft. The concept is intended to support an(https://www.twz.com/inflatable-hangar-points-to-air-forces-new-focus-on-deception) Agile Combat Employment-style approach in which CCAs can be dispersed across multiple operating locations rather than relying on a single large ground footprint. The company has since delivered a Fury aircraft to the Air Force’s EOU at Creech, making it the first CCA to be permanently delivered to the unit, according to Anduril. The service is now flying the aircraft multiple times a day with what the company said is a very limited Anduril presence. (A YFQ-44A production representative test vehicle is staged in a testing chamber at Costa Mesa, Calif. The Department of the Air Force’s has begun ground testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to validate performance and readiness for future flight testing. (Courtesy photo))  A YFQ-44A production-representative test vehicle is staged in a testing chamber at Costa Mesa, California. Courtesy photo via U.S. Air Force  Master Sgt. Gustavo Castillo  Meanwhile, Anduril says assembly of Fury airframes has already begun at its Arsenal facility, with production aircraft expected to begin coming off the line early next year. The company says it has built the facility and supply chain around a potential production rate of 150 aircraft per year, although that figure is a planned capacity rather than an existing Air Force order. Anduril executives said the company has already advanced procurement of long-lead items and worked with its Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers to support that rate, while also examining additional production lines. They emphasized that the current Air Force pricing is based on a substantially lower annual buy than 150 aircraft, but said the Fury’s unit cost is well below $20 million at the quantities currently contemplated. The company also says the production line is designed for relatively rapid reconfiguration, allowing capacity to be shifted between products in weeks rather than the months or years associated with more traditional aircraft production facilities. Earlier this year, the Air Force (https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-orders-both-general-atomics-fq-42-and-andurils-fq-44-into-production) awarded contracts for the production of FQ-44A Fury and General Atomics (https://www.twz.com/air/dark-merlin-is-now-general-atomics-yfq-42a-fighter-drones-nickname) FQ-42A Dark Merlin drones — the latter has now (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) been formally named Vengeance . This sets the service up to operate a split initial fleet of CCAs. As you can read about (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) here , the Air Force is now aiming to have at least 500 CCA in service by 2032, a substantial step up from earlier plans, with the USAF having previously talked about (https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-orders-both-general-atomics-fq-42-and-andurils-fq-44-into-production) acquiring “over” 150 of these drones by the end of the decade. The 500 target will likely include upcoming increment two CCAs, as well, the requirements of which the Air Force is still working on. For Anduril, the next major milestone should go far beyond simply putting a Fury and an F-35 in the same formation, demonstrating that a crewed fifth-generation fighter can actually command and employ the autonomous aircraft as part of a live mission. If Anduril’s timeline holds, that testing could begin relatively soon. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com  (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) (Thomas Newdick Avatar)   (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick   Staff Writer    Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at  TWZ  , where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond.   (https://twitter.com/CombatAir)           (https://www.twz.com/category/drones) Drones      (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features         Loading comments…  Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.         Latest in Collaborative Combat Aircraft (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) (The U.S. Air Force is now aiming to have at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in service by 2032. The service also wants to have an equal number of Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) drones to succeed its MQ-9 Reapers by that time.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/drones) Drones   (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) Fleet Of At Least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft By 2032 Now In USAF’s Plans   500 CCAs is a step up from recently stated USAF plans, and the service also now wants 500 more new drones to succeed its MQ-9s. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick        12:36 PM  September 14, 2026      (https://www.twz.com/news-features/everything-we-just-learned-about-the-vectis-collaborative-combat-aircraft-from-the-skunk-works) (Lockheed's Vectis CCA features a submerged inlet and puts a premium on survivability.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/drones) Drones   (https://www.twz.com/news-features/everything-we-just-learned-about-the-vectis-collaborative-combat-aircraft-from-the-skunk-works) Everything We Just Learned About The Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft From The Skunk Works   We have new details on Lockheed's tailless CCA, including about its exotic "submerged" air inlet and how its design puts a premium on survivability. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick        6:01 AM  September 14, 2026        ()    The TWZ Newsletter  Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Sign Up  By signing up you agree to our(https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy.           More   (https://www.twz.com/air/x-62a-toting-infrared-search-and-track-pod-used-its-ai-brain-to-autonomously-intercept-an-enemy-t-38) (The U.S. Air Force's X-62A test jet was able to use its artificial intelligence (AI) driven 'brain' to autonomously spot and track other aircraft in flight, and then move to intercept them, in recent testing.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft   (https://www.twz.com/air/x-62a-toting-infrared-search-and-track-pod-used-its-ai-brain-to-autonomously-intercept-an-enemy-t-38) X-62A Toting Infrared Search And Track Pod Used Its AI ‘Brain’ To Autonomously Intercept An ‘Enemy’ T-38   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/news-features/everything-we-just-learned-about-the-vectis-collaborative-combat-aircraft-from-the-skunk-works) (Lockheed's Vectis CCA features a submerged inlet and puts a premium on survivability.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/drones) Drones   (https://www.twz.com/news-features/everything-we-just-learned-about-the-vectis-collaborative-combat-aircraft-from-the-skunk-works) Everything We Just Learned About The Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft From The Skunk Works   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) (The U.S. Air Force is now aiming to have at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in service by 2032. The service also wants to have an equal number of Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) drones to succeed its MQ-9 Reapers by that time.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/drones) Drones   (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) Fleet Of At Least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft By 2032 Now In USAF’s Plans   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/brontanax-fighter-drone-is-the-uks-big-leap-into-collaborative-combat-aircraft) (Farnborough International Airshow, 2026 Combat Air launch Client : BAE Systems Picture date: Tuesday July 21, 2026)     (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft   (https://www.twz.com/air/brontanax-fighter-drone-is-the-uks-big-leap-into-collaborative-combat-aircraft) Brontanax Fighter Drone Is The UK’s Big Leap Into Collaborative Combat Aircraft   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick           (https://www.twz.com/air/yfq-44a-fury-fighter-drone-has-fired-its-first-aim-120-amraam-missile) (Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone has live-fired a munition for the first time in a test conducted from Edwards Air Force Base in California.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft   (https://www.twz.com/air/yfq-44a-fury-fighter-drone-has-fired-its-first-aim-120-amraam-missile) YFQ-44A Fury ‘Fighter Drone’ Has Fired Its First AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/australian-mq-28-ghost-bat-fighter-drones-could-be-commanded-by-u-s-pilots) (The U.S. Air Force is "threaded in tight" with the work Australians are doing with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft, according to the service's top officer in the Pacific.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/mq-28) MQ-28   (https://www.twz.com/air/australian-mq-28-ghost-bat-fighter-drones-could-be-commanded-by-u-s-pilots) Australian MQ-28 Ghost Bat Fighter Drones Could Be Commanded By U.S. Pilots   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/typhoons-paired-with-cca-fighter-drones-armed-with-meteor-missiles-eyed-by-uk) (BAE Systems is exploring how the Eurofighter Typhoon could control uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) as part of a broader effort to introduce new capabilities for the jet. The company is currently pursuing concepts to integrate CCAs with the Typhoon to expand ‘combat mass’ and better address emerging threat environments. Ultimately, however, the experience gained here will be ported over to the future Tempest combat jet — designed to work closely with drone from the outset.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft   (https://www.twz.com/air/typhoons-paired-with-cca-fighter-drones-armed-with-meteor-missiles-eyed-by-uk) Typhoons Paired With CCA Fighter Drones Armed With Meteor Missiles Eyed By UK   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick           (https://www.twz.com/air/fury-loyal-wingman-arrives-at-creech-afb-for-agile-combat-deployment-trials) (Anduril's YFQ-44A heads to creech for CCA ACE testing.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft   (https://www.twz.com/air/fury-loyal-wingman-arrives-at-creech-afb-for-agile-combat-deployment-trials) Fury Loyal Wingman Arrives At Creech AFB For Agile Combat Deployment Trials   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/category/air) SEE MORE         (https://www.twz.com/) ()    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (ce0b6a4b29)  (/air/andurils-yfq-44a-fury-cca-has-flown-alongside-f-35s)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy       (https://www.twz.com/editorial-standards) Editorial Standards  (https://www.twz.com/about) About TWZ  (https://www.twz.com/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.twz.com/the-team) The Team   (https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms & Conditions  (https://www.twz.com/sitemap) Sitemap   FOLLOW US (https://www.facebook.com/thewarzonewire)      (https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire)      (https://www.instagram.com/thewarzonewire)        (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-war-zone/)      (https://www.youtube.com/@thewarzone)       (https://www.twz.com/feed)             DISCLAIMER(S) © 2026(https://recurrent.io/) Recurrent Ventures. All Rights Reserved. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information .       (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear  (https://the-war-zone-shop.fourthwall.com/) Merch