USAF begins ground testing for CCA

The US Air Force has begun ground testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, marking a major milestone in its effort to integrate autonomous systems into the future force. The CCA is an autonomous aircraft with fighter-like performance that will accompany crewed combat aircraft into combat, carrying sensors and weapons.

This ground test phase includes evaluations of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A production-representative test vehicles developed by General Atomics and Anduril Industries, respectively, says the USAF. This phase focusses on propulsion systems, avionics, autonomy integration and ground control interfaces. These assessments will validate performance, inform future design decisions and prepare the systems for flight testing later this year.

“Starting ground tests is a key milestone for the CCA Increment 1 program,” said Gen. David W. Allvin, USAF Chief of Staff. “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.”

The CCA program is vital to the Air Force’s broader shift towards scalable force packages and human-machine teaming, the USAF explains. Designed to operate alongside crewed aircraft, CCA will extend operational reach, enhance survivability and increase lethality in contested environments. As force multipliers, they will support rapid deployment and affordable mass, delivering combat power at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighters.

“We’re moving fast because the warfighter needs this capability,” Allvin said. “CCA is about delivering decisive advantage in highly contested environments. The program is accelerating fielding through innovative design and acquisition strategies — and both vendors are meeting or exceeding key milestones. These aircraft will help us turn readiness into operational dominance.”

The CCA program prioritizes speed, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, says the USAF. By leveraging open architectures and commercial technologies, it allows for rapid integration, iterative upgrades and scalable production. A competitive Increment 1 production decision is expected in fiscal year 2026, with development for Increment 2 beginning that same year to expand mission applications and integrate emerging technologies.

“The pace of innovation must outmatch the pace of the threat,” Allvin said. “CCA is how we do that.”

“The CCA program represents a groundbreaking new era in combat aviation, and we remain on schedule to test and fly YFQ-42 in the coming months,” said David Alexander, President of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “Over the past three decades, GA-ASI has pioneered more than two dozen different unmanned aircraft types for the US and its allies, including multiple unmanned combat jets flying today, and logged nearly 9 million total flight hours. Our work on YFQ-42 will further expand the field of unmanned aviation, and we remain excited for the future.”