The Air Force has selected both General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries to build its first fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, based on their YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, respectively.
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Anduril, Shield AI and Collins have been tapped to develop the autonomy system for the collaborative combat aircraft.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said the MQ-9 proved to be the “most valuable player” of Operation Epic Fury—so valuable, in fact, that a key congressional panel wants to require the Air Force to grow its fleet of Reaper drones in the next few years.
The post Senators Want to Build Back MQ-9 Fleet by 2028 appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Several full-sized CCA aircraft or models are on display here, with company officials eager to talk up the latest updates.
An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter teamed up with a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger drone in a recent test to refine the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept, the company said in a May 27 statement.
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Lors de l’opération «Fureur épique» qu’elles ont menée contre le régime iranien, les forces américaines ont perdu vingt-quatre drones MALE [Moyenne Altitude Longue Endurance] MQ-9A Reaper, selon un décompte réalisé par le Service de recherche du Congrès. L’an passé, douze appareils de ce type avaient été abattus par la rébellion houthiste, au Yémen. Faut-il en...
Cet article General Atomics et…
Air Force Col. Timothy Helfrich said the response to the drone’s April 6 crash “validates our approach to accept acquisition/test risk instead of operational risk allowing us to accelerate the program towards fielding.”
General Atomics poinformowało wczoraj o oblocie bezzałogowej platformy wczesnego ostrzegania (AEW) opartej na MQ-9B. ...
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The YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft has resumed flight testing after a six-week pause initiated when one of the drones crashed in early April.
The post YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft Returns to Flight with Software Fix After Crash appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones have been the standout platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said May 20.
The post Air Force Chief: MQ-9 Reaper ‘Most Valuable Player’ of Iran War Despite Losses appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The Air Force wants to rapidly replace about two dozen MQ-9A Reaper drones lost during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, top service officials told lawmakers May 12.
The post To Replace Lost MQ-9s, USAF Eyes Next-Gen Reaper appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
“There is, I think, a burgeoning interest across the broader defense industrial base on what comes next,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Luke Cropsey.
The Air Force and General Atomics have successfully test-fired laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets using an MQ-9A Reaper drone.
The post Drone-Killing Drone: Air Force Tests APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets on MQ-9 appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The Netherlands has agreed to fund the purchase of two of the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft being developed for the U.S. Air Force, under a "landmark" international partnership inked before the semi-autonomous drones are even fully developed.
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En marge du salon Sea Air Space 2026, peu avant de quitter – brusquement – son poste de secrétaire à l’US Navy, John Phelan a déclaré que ses services étaient en train de finaliser une étude comparative entre les porte-avions de la classe Nimitz et ceux de la classe Ford, l’objectif étant de savoir si...
Cet article Les députés demandent une étude de faisabilité pour doter la «France Libre» de…
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — General Atomics is looking to equip the U.S. Navy’s planned Trump-class battleships / BBG(X), according to company leadership at Sea Air Space 2026. During the initial concept debut of USS Defiant (BBG-1) in December, the Navy plans to arm the battleships with several advanced systems that the American defense contractor has ...
The post General Atomics Pitches Armaments…
One of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones crashed shortly after takeoff April 6, and the company has paused its test flights while it investigates the incident.
The post General Atomics CCA Crashes in California, Test Flights Paused appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The company said a mishap occurred “following takeoff” today.
The U.S. Navy’s next-generation fighter jet program, dubbed F/A-XX, appeared to be back on track in February when Congress injected nearly $1 billion into the secretive program. The Navy has long viewed the sixth-generation aircraft as central to its plans to confront China in the Pacific, serving as a stealthy “quarterback” fighter that can operate in a carrier air wing alongside a range of…
The Air Force’s nascent Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is beating former Secretary Frank Kendall’s goal of producing drone wingmen at about one-third the cost of an F-35, an official leading the effort said March 25.
The post Air Force Officials Say They’re Beating Cost Goal for CCA Drones appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
On devrait connaître le nom que portera le porte-avions de nouvelle génération [PA NG], dont le lancement en réalisation a été confirmé en décembre dernier, à la faveur de la visite que fera le président Macron au site de Naval Group implanté à Indret [Loire-Atlantique], le 17 mars. À cette occasion, l’Elysée a livré quelques...
Cet article Le projet de doter le porte-avions de nouvelle…
Just one year ago, Collaborative Combat Aircraft took center stage as then-Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin designated the two competing jets prototypes as the first unmanned fighters in Air Force history: General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A. Twelve months later, it’s the autonomy software that’s flying those aircraft garnering the attention. Autonomy software, more than…
Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou gets up close and personal with some American unmanned platforms in Saudi Arabia.
Pouvant survoler une zone donnée pendant plusieurs heures pour des missions ISR [renseignement, surveillance, reconnaissance] ou de frappe, le drone MALE [Moyenne Altitude Longue Endurance] est généralement associé aux opérations de contre-terrorisme et de contre-insurrection, menées dans des environnements dits « permissifs ». C’est la raison pour laquelle la France a fait l’acquisition de MQ-9A…
Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone wingman under development for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has begun testing flights with a missile underwing, according to an Air Force press release.
Censés donner de la masse à une aviation de combat en accompagnant les chasseurs-bombardiers avec équipage, les drones de combat collaboratif [CCA pour Combat Collaborative Aircraft] prendront bientôt une place prépondérante dans les opérations aériennes, d’autant plus qu’ils seront en mesure d’effectuer plusieurs profils de missions : frappe air-sol, neutralisation des défenses aériennes…
The Air Force has put inert weapons on its new uncrewed fighters for the first time and plans to conduct live weapons tests later this year. Those steps come as the service is moving to bring its new drone wingmen into service more rapidly than traditional aircraft.
The post CCAs Start Carrying Inert Missiles, Live Fire Shots Expected Later This Year appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.
First, General Atomics dubbed its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft "Dark Merlin," consistent with the Air Force's tradition of naming attack aircraft after birds of prey. A few hours later, Northrop Grumman announced it is calling its YFQ-48A offering “Talon Blue.”
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The Air Force has a new X-plane: The X-68A LongShot from General Atomics is an air-launched drone intended to carry additional air-to-air munitions. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has been developing LongShot since 2021, and announced on Feb. 17 that flight testing could begin “as early as the end...
The post DARPA’s New X-Plane: Meet the X-68A LongShot Drone appeared first on Air…
The first flight test for the X-68A was originally set to begin in December of 2023, Breaking Defense previously reported.