US Air Force tests unmanned fighter jet CCA in first real-world combat exercise

Published Jul 28, 03:45 PM UTC

The U.S. Air Force has conducted its first real-world combat exercise with an unmanned fighter jet, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The exercise, run by the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit, tested the semi-autonomous drone's ability to operate in an Agile Combat Employment scenario, dispersing aircraft across multiple locations. The CCA program, which includes prototypes from General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, and Anduril, aims to field robotic wingmen for piloted jets like the F-35 and F-22. The Air Force recently awarded production contracts for the first 150 aircraft, with ambitions to field up to 1,000 CCAs. The exercise focused on operational integration, reliability, and extended range, with rapid testing procedures to accelerate fielding. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach emphasized the need for 'affordable mass' in contested environments.