DefenseUS Air Force tests open architecture in flight with YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 collaborative combat aircraft
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has expanded testing of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program by validating a government-owned autonomy architecture across multiple competing drone platforms, signaling a shift toward a modular, open-systems acquisition model.
The service confirmed that its Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) is being integrated into aircraft developed by General Atomics and Anduril, with mission autonomy software provided by RTX’s Collins Aerospace unit and Shield AI. Semi-autonomous flight testing is underway on the YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 unmanned fighters at a California test site.
By separating mission software from specific hardware platforms, the Air Force aims to avoid dependence on a single prime contractor and allow autonomy algorithms to be deployed across different aircraft types. Officials say the approach is designed to accelerate updates and increase competition among software developers.
The A-GRA framework establishes a common technical standard for mission autonomy, allowing the service to integrate software from both established defense contractors and newer technology firms. The goal is to enable rapid iteration of tactics and capabilities without requiring major redesigns of the aircraft themselves.
The CCA program is intended to field autonomous or semi-autonomous aircraft that can operate alongside crewed fighters, acting as force multipliers in contested environments. The drones are expected to support missions ranging from electronic warfare to strike and reconnaissance, complementing platforms such as the F-35 and next-generation combat aircraft under development.
Air Force officials have described the validation of A-GRA across multiple vendors as a key milestone in reshaping acquisition practices, emphasizing speed and software adaptability over traditional platform-centric procurement. The service argues that this structure will allow it to introduce new capabilities faster and reduce long-term costs tied to proprietary systems.
As flight testing continues, the Air Force says data gathered from the open-architecture integration effort will inform future production decisions and the operational deployment timeline for the CCA fleet.
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