Prototype of American Fury drone gets air-to-air missiles

The prototype YFQ-44 Fury unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by U.S. defence company Anduril, has been armed with AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

The new drone received the air-to-air missiles as part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to develop lethal unmanned “wingmen” to operate alongside manned combat aircraft, Caliber.Az reports, citing The War Zone.

In the context of joint flight testing involving the YFQ-44 Fury and the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the outlet noted that the focus is currently “on safe system integration rather than operational employment.”

According to TWZ, drones developed under the CCA program are expected in the future to be armed with AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missiles (JATM), regarded as the next-generation successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

In November, Breaking Defense, citing the U.S. Air Force, reported that the YFQ-44A prototype — designed as a loyal wingman for fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets — had completed its maiden flight.

By Khagan Isayev