The US Air Force (USAF)’s 53rd Wing has activated a new unit that will evaluate the progress of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
The Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) was launched at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to be the premier evaluator of the CCA’s future developments, including its design and production phases.
Its launch makes it a fully operational squadron equivalent, moving up from its status as a detachment that began in 2023.
“The EOU embodies our commitment to rapid innovation and ensuring our warfighters have the most advanced tools to dominate the future battlespace,” said 53rd Wing Commander Colonel Daniel Lehoski.
“They are ready to reduce risk in concurrency and deliver capability faster,” he added
Fielding of the first tranche of CCAs is expected to occur by the end of the decade.
The CCA Program
The CCA program aims to develop new manned and unmanned systems that can operate together on missions that prioritize increased situational awareness and risk reduction.
In May, the USAF began ground tests of two unmanned aerial vehicles developed under the initiative.
Designated YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, the test vehicles are currently being assessed for their propulsion systems and avionics, autonomy integration, and ground control interfaces.
The prototypes are expected to compete with next-generation aircraft.
