The US Air Force has begun ground testing for two unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) developed under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
The air force revealed that the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A test vehicles are currently undergoing tests for their propulsion systems, avionics, autonomy integration and ground control interfaces to prepare the systems for flight testing later this year.
All tests are currently taking place at the Beale Air Force Base in California, hosted by the CCA Aircraft Readiness Unit. The aircraft will be flown minimally and maintained at a flight-ready status.
“CCA is about delivering decisive advantage in highly contested environments. The program is accelerating fielding through innovative design and acquisition strategies — and both vendors are meeting or exceeding key milestones,” US Air Force Chief of Staff General David W. Allvin said.
“These aircraft will help us turn readiness into operational dominance,” he added.
The UCAVs were developed under the defense’s CCA program, which aims to create unmanned capabilities that can operate alongside crewed aircraft for a stronger operational reach.
The CCA Program
The prototypes were given the fighter drone designations YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A in March, becoming the first CCAs to receive identifiers in the force’s history.
General Atomics designed the YFQ-42A to compete with next-generation air dominance fighters, cruising at greater speeds due to its elongated fuselage, slender wings, and dorsal-mounted inlet.
Meanwhile, Anduril’s YFQ-44A dimensions are approximately half those of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with trapezoidal wings, a chin-mounted inlet, a cruciform tail arrangement with stabilators, and a single vertical stabilizer.
Both drones support the air force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance initiative, which pushes for local production and acquisition of advanced technologies.
