Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Collaborative Combat Aircraft
Name	Collaborative Combat Aircraft
Type	Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Multiple contractors
Designer	United States Air Force, United States Navy
Introduction	Planned for 2028
Status	Under development
Primary user	United States Department of Defense

Contents

Overview
Development
Design and capabilities
Operational concepts
Variants and programs
See also

Collaborative Combat Aircraft. A next-generation class of unmanned aerial systems being developed by the United States Air Force and United States Navy to operate alongside manned fighter jets like the F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Super Hornet. These autonomous aircraft are designed to perform a variety of missions, extending the reach and lethality of traditional combat aviation while reducing risk to human pilots. The program represents a central pillar of the Pentagon's strategy for future aerial warfare and is a key component of the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems.

Overview

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept emerged from initiatives like the Skyborg program and the Loyal Wingman project, which explored autonomous teaming between manned and unmanned platforms. It is a critical element of the Department of the Air Force's operational vision, often discussed in the context of the Air Combat Command and the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. The effort is closely tied to broader Joint All-Domain Command and Control concepts aimed at connecting sensors and shooters across the United States Armed Forces. Senior leaders, including former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Charles Q. Brown Jr., have emphasized its importance for maintaining superiority against advanced adversaries.

Development

Development is being managed under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center with significant involvement from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and industry partners. Key milestones include the establishment of the CCA Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the release of formal solicitations to major defense contractors. Companies such as Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are actively competing to produce prototypes. The development pathway is influenced by lessons from previous unmanned systems like the X-47B and the MQ-25 Stingray, with testing expected to occur at ranges like the Nellis Air Force Base and the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station.

Design and capabilities

Envisioned designs range from relatively low-cost, attritable airframes to more sophisticated platforms, balancing performance with production scale. Core capabilities are expected to include advanced sensor fusion, long-range radar, and electronic warfare systems to perform missions as a sensor or jammer. The aircraft will leverage artificial intelligence for autonomous flight and mission execution, a technology area heavily researched by agencies like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Interoperability with existing networks like the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node and future systems under the Advanced Battle Management System is a fundamental requirement.

Operational concepts

In operational use, these aircraft will fly in concert with crewed fighters, forming what the USAF terms "manned-unmanned teaming." Primary roles include conducting forward intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, launching first in high-threat environments to expose enemy air defenses, and engaging targets with both kinetic and non-kinetic effects. This concept expands the tactical options available to a flight lead in an F-22 Raptor or an F-15EX Eagle II, effectively creating a more resilient and distributed combat force. The operational doctrine is being refined through wargames and exercises at the Warrior Preparation Center and the USAF Weapons School.

Variants and programs

Several distinct efforts fall under the broader CCA umbrella. The Air Force is pursuing its own CCA program as part of NGAD, while the Navy has its complementary F/A-XX program and the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Aircraft project. The DARPA Air Combat Evolution program is a key technology feeder. International parallel developments include the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing Airpower Teaming System and the Kratos Defense & Security Solutions XQ-58 Valkyrie, which has been tested in collaboration with the USAF.