The United States Air Force has taken an important step in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program by authorizing production of the semi-autonomous combat drones FQ-42A Dark Merlin, from General Atomics, and FQ-44A Fury, from Anduril.
The decision, made months ahead of the expected schedule, marks the progress of an initiative considered strategic for expanding U.S. air combat capability through unmanned aircraft capable of operating alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35.
Unlike traditional programs that usually select only one winner, the USAF chose to keep two distinct platforms under development and production.
According to the service, the goal is to acquire more than 150 collaborative combat aircraft by the end of the decade, with the possibility of new orders depending on the performance and delivery capacity of the companies. The strategy also reduces risks and offers different operational capabilities, since the two projects follow distinct development concepts.
CCAs are designed to act as “loyal wingmen”, accompanying crewed aircraft in combat, reconnaissance and support missions. Equipped with advanced autonomy systems, these drones will be able to carry weapons, collect information and perform tasks independently or under the supervision of human pilots.
The Air Force believes this approach will make it possible to significantly increase the number of sensors and weapons available in combat without proportionally raising costs and risks for crews.
+ Video: FQ-44A Fury: Anduril combat drone conducts flight test in the U.S.
In addition to the aircraft development, the program is also betting on an innovative model for autonomy systems, separating hardware and software into independent contracts. The measure aims to accelerate technological updates, encourage competition among suppliers and avoid dependence on a single company.
With the first units already in production and advanced testing underway, the expectation is that the new drones will be ready to enter operational service before the end of the decade.
The Department of the Air Force has awarded multiple contracts under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, including Increment 1 air vehicles and mission autonomy software.
Details on accelerating efforts to rapidly field next-generation combat capability:… pic.twitter.com/L7AO64ucsj
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) June 17, 2026
Source and images: X @usairforce | Anduril | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
