First U.S. Air Force unmanned fighter begins ground testing
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has begun ground testing of the YFQ-44A, one of two unmanned fighters selected for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
Anduril’s aircraft is in a test chamber in Costa Mesa, California and will be used for evaluations focused on propulsion systems, avionics, autonomy integration and ground control interfaces.
According to the Air Force, these evaluations will validate performance, inform future design decisions and prepare the systems for flight testing later this year.
In addition to the YFQ-44A, the Air Force has also selected the General Atomics YFQ-42A, which is expected to undergo the same tests soon.
“Starting ground tests is a key milestone for the CCA Increment 1 program,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. “This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, reducing integration risks, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter.”
Aircraft Readiness Unit
The CCA is considered a historic shift in the service, which will shift unmanned combat aircraft into riskier roles and also to support manned fighters.
The Air Force believes the CCA will extend operational range, increase survivability and increase lethality in contested environments.
The program has been gaining scale as this asset appears to be increasingly essential in the theater of war.
The Department of the Air Force, which is responsible for the testing, has selected Beale AFB, California, as the preferred location to host a CCA Aircraft Readiness Unit (ARU).
The ARU’s mission is to provide combat aircraft ready for deployment worldwide at a moment’s notice. “CCAs are semi-autonomous in nature, so the ARU will not need to conduct a significant number of daily missions to maintain readiness,” the service said.
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