An exercise conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California put the new combat-focused acquisition concept into practice and accelerated the operational development of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft
The United States Air Force recently concluded what is considered a decisive exercise involving the use of the YFQ-44A within the framework of the Experimental Operations Unit (EOU), a unit subordinate to Air Combat Command. The activity, carried out at Edwards Air Force Base in California, also marked the practical application of the principles of the new Warfighting Acquisition System, a model that seeks to accelerate the delivery of military capabilities through earlier operational experimentation in the process.
The exercise used aircraft from the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and represented a significant shift in how the USAF intends to develop this type of capability. Instead of relying solely on later testing phases, the approach is to place operators directly at the center of experimentation from the outset, helping shape tactics, techniques, and procedures that can accelerate the fielding of these unmanned platforms.
EOU personnel worked alongside the 412th Test Wing of the Air Force Materiel Command in a series of sorties aimed at refining operational and logistical procedures for employing and sustaining CCA in contested environments. According to the Air Force, this type of hands-on testing is a key part of the strategy to rapidly field unmanned airpower at scale, while reducing barriers between requirements, acquisition, and operations.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Jensen, commander of the EOU, the experimental event was conducted entirely by unit members from start to finish. He highlighted that each sortie was planned and executed with direct participation from warfighters, not just engineers or test pilots, enabling learning that is closer to real combat demands.
As the unit designated to develop employment concepts for CCA, the EOU’s core mission is precisely to place the operator’s perspective at the center of the process. The idea is that this early-stage involvement helps build the initial tactics, techniques, and procedures needed to ensure these aircraft are integrated in a viable way into future operations.
The CCA program is treated as one of the main pilot efforts of the Warfighting Acquisition System, structured to move from concept to a credible combat capability in record time. The goal, according to the USAF, is to bring operators, developers, and test teams closer together in a continuous feedback cycle focused on delivering military capability at the speed required by the current environment.
For Colonel Timothy Helfrich, acquisition executive for the fighter and advanced aircraft portfolio, the collaboration observed during the exercise represents the foundation of the ongoing transformation in the acquisition field. According to him, by integrating EOU operators with acquisition professionals, the Air Force can adjust operational and development risks in real time, adopting a more agile process.
The conclusion of the exercise is seen as another important step toward delivering a capability that will expand the reach and increase the survivability of manned aircraft in combat. With this, the U.S. Air Force moves closer to a fully operational CCA capability to support the Joint Force in the future.
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Source and images: USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
