US Air Force selects firms to develop autonomous systems for drone wingmen

The US Air Force has selected five companies to develop the autonomy systems for the first batch of its uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) fleet.

Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis, program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft, announced the contracts at the Air Force’s Life Cycle Industry Day in Dayton, Ohio. Due to security concerns, the names of the selected companies were not disclosed, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

These autonomous systems, described by Voorheis as the "brains" of the future CCA fleet, will enable the drones to operate alongside crewed fighter jets like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, performing various missions such as strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. The Air Force plans to deploy at least 1,000 CCAs by the late 2030s, with each increment introducing new capabilities.

Earlier this year, the Air Force chose General Atomics and Anduril to build prototypes of the first increment of the air vehicle, with both companies developing production-representative test aircraft on schedule. The Air Force aims to award a production contract for Increment 1 by 2026, potentially selecting aircraft from multiple vendors based on performance and capacity needs.

The selection of hardware and software developers was made from an established consortium of potential CCA vendors. The Air Force intends to maintain a robust marketplace for future program increments, ensuring a diverse pool of autonomy vendors.

Col. Timothy Helfrich, senior materiel leader for advanced aircraft, indicated that requirements for the next batch of aircraft will be narrowed down in the coming months, with contracts expected to be awarded by 2025.

Additionally, the Air Force plans to involve international partners in future CCA discussions, exploring foreign military sales opportunities and potential co-production agreements.

This fall, the Air Force will solidify partnerships with its closest allies to define Increment 2 capabilities and participation.