Maya Carlin
While the Air Force’s upcoming Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program may technically be paused, the service’s first two prototype aircraft have been designated. Manufacturers General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril have proposed models to uncrewed compete for the collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs) project, labeled YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively. “For the first time in our history, we have a fighter designation in the YFQ-42 Alpha and YFQ-44 Alpha,” Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin said. “It may just be symbolic, but we are telling the world we are leaning into a new chapter of aerial warfare.” As part of the service’s sixth-generation fighter project, CCAs are expected to fly alongside the jets as autonomous drone wingmen. Perhaps until NGAD is more finalized, these CCAs could fly alongside the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning platform. While no other military fields such technology to date, China is racing to develop its own sixth-generation fighter and fleet of accompanying combat drones simultaneously.
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