U.S. Air Force forms squadron to test unmanned fighter jets in combat

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U.S. Air Force forms squadron to test unmanned fighter jets in combat
U.S. Air Force forms squadron to test unmanned fighter jets in combat (X @OfficialCSAF)

The United States Air Force has officially created its first Experimental Operations Squadron, linked to the 53rd Wing, with the goal of accelerating the development of unmanned aircraft within the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

The unit, which previously operated as a detachment, now has full status and will be responsible for testing and improving the cooperation between humans and autonomous systems in realistic training environments.

This new squadron will work in partnership with advanced simulation centers, such as the Virtual Warfare Center, to conduct virtual experiments and real flight tests. The focus is to validate tactics, technologies, and operational methods, creating a more agile and effective combat ecosystem capable of delivering advantages in complex and highly contested conflicts.

+ Video: New “YFQ-44A” Combat Drone Revealed in U.S. Testing

The CCA program is part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative and envisions the use of combat drones alongside manned fighters like the F-35. The goal is to have more than 150 CCA aircraft in operation by 2029 and, in the long term, reach 1,000 units.

Two prototypes are already in the functional phase: the YFQ-42A from General Atomics and the YFQ-44A from Anduril.

Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @OfficialCSAF | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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