The US Air Force granted production contracts on Wednesday to General Atomics and Anduril Industries for its initial fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, advancing a program launched just over two years ago from the prototype phase into large-scale manufacturing.

The service selected General Atomics to produce the FQ-42 and Anduril to build the FQ-44, without releasing details on contract value or order volume.

Awards arrived months ahead of the planned timeline, confirming that both designs satisfy operational needs and stand ready for series production.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink stated that rapid movement from competition to manufacturing allows the service to deliver credible, combat-ready semi-autonomous platforms ahead of strategic competitors, while confirming plans to acquire more than 150 operational CCA by the end of the decade.

Anduril noted that the agreement creates a framework for the Air Force to purchase additional lots of FQ-44 aircraft over several years, offering a straightforward route to increase fighter capacity quickly and at lower cost.

The company highlighted that the interval from prototype selection in April 2024 to the production award marks the shortest transition from prototype to manufacturing for any fighter aircraft in more than five decades.

In parallel with hardware awards, the Air Force advanced the software element by issuing mission autonomy production contracts to six firms: Anduril, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Shield AI.

Departing from conventional Pentagon buying practices, the service follows a software-sold-separately approach that separates acquisition of CCA mission autonomy software from the airframe itself.

CCA Plays Vital Role

The CCA effort forms a central element of the Air Force future force structure, designed to spread combat power, lower risk for human pilots, and extend the reach of crewed platforms such as the F-35 and the Boeing F-47 fighter that will succeed the F-22 Raptor under the Next Generation Air Dominance program.

The service plans to field roughly 1,000 combat-ready CCA while using ongoing vendor competition to reduce expenses and grow fighter numbers. Anduril reports that its production line can currently deliver up to 150 aircraft annually.

The program stresses human-machine teaming so pilots can direct multiple autonomous aircraft for scouting, target engagement, and absorbing enemy fire. CCAs provide an economical way to enlarge airpower without the logistical and personnel limits of traditional fleets.

AI-driven autonomy supports fast decisions and mission flexibility, especially when communications are disrupted. Placing unmanned systems in high-threat roles also shields human pilots from danger and improves overall resilience.

The YFQ-44A and similar platforms will eventually handle missions from electronic warfare and surveillance to strike operations, based on evolving battlespace requirements.