US Air Force Seeks Production of Collaborative Combat Aircraft by the 2030s

The U.S. Air Force wants its contractors to create collaborative combat aircraft – unmanned aerial vehicles that can fly alongside manned aircraft operated by the Air Force and the Navy. According to Brig. Gen. Dale White, program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft at the Air Force, officials want to start producing CCAs before the end of 2030. White also pointed out that CCAs must be interoperable to accommodate other services’ mission needs.

White’s comments echo Air Force Secretary and 2023 Wash100 awardee Frank Kendall‘s statement about the CCAs. He said the service plans to buy 1,000 of the UAVs, which will accompany F-35 jets and the Next-Generation Air Dominance aircraft.

USAF is seeking $500 million for the CCA program for the fiscal year 2024, Defense One reported.

Speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association’s AFA Warfare Symposium in March, Kendall shared that the CCAs would enhance the Air Force’s fighter force structure, improve pilot performance and reduce safety risks. He also said in a different engagement in September 2022 that a CCA competition will be held in 2024.