In a bold move to maintain air superiority and counter China's expanding military might, the United States Air Force (USAF) has announced a groundbreaking initiative to develop and deploy 1,000 autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
These AI-powered drones, designed to operate alongside manned fighter jets as "loyal wingmen," are a key component of the USAF's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
The CCAs, envisioned as more affordable and versatile than manned aircraft, will be equipped with advanced sensors, weapons, and electronic warfare systems. By leveraging artificial intelligence, these autonomous platforms will perform a wide range of missions, from reconnaissance to combat, with reduced risk to human pilots.
Contracts have been awarded to Anduril and General Atomics to spearhead the development of these groundbreaking drones. With a target of reaching production decisions by 2026 and operational status by 2030, the USAF aims to create a formidable force of unmanned aerial vehicles to counter the growing number of aerial threats posed by China.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been instrumental in advancing the CCA concept through its Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, focusing on developing AI algorithms for autonomous dogfighting and fostering trust between human pilots and autonomous systems.
While concerns about pilot workload and trust in autonomous systems have been raised, the USAF is actively addressing these challenges through AI-supported automation and increased autonomy for the CCAs.
The development of these advanced drones marks a significant shift in air warfare, where unmanned platforms play an increasingly critical role alongside manned aircraft.
