USAF moves forward with wingman drone production after successful design reviews

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USAF moves forward with wingman drone production after successful design reviews

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Nov 14, 2024

Anduril and General Atomics have successfully completed critical design reviews for their drone prototypes as part of the United States Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The two companies will now proceed to manufacture their designs, with potential flights expected next year.

Col. Timothy M. Helfrich, Senior Materiel Leader for the Advanced Aircraft Division at Air Force Materiel Command, confirmed that both companies have completed a critical design review (CDR) for their 'wingman drone' prototypes, which will accompany future fighter jet fleets.

This milestone paves the way for prototype production and initial flights planned for mid-2025. Diem Salmon, Anduril vice president for air dominance and strike, reported: "Fabrication is moving very quickly, and it’s getting to the path where we’re going to be able to integrate and support first flight that is more or less around the corner."

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CCAs are autonomous aircraft designed to support the Air Force's sixth-generation NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) fighter platform. Initially focused on air-to-air support missions, these drones are intended to be low-cost and expendable. Future iterations may include electronic warfare capabilities.

Anduril's Fury and General Atomics' Gambit designs won contracts over competitors Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrup Grumman. The Air Force plans a production decision on these platforms by 2026.

Helfrich stated that both companies are "on track to complete their first flights in a timeline that allows us to get operational capability by the end of the decade." The initial force commitment is approximately 1,000 CCAs.

Increment 2 of the program remains under consideration as Air Force leaders evaluate sophistication levels against cost-effectiveness. Unsuccessful applicants from Increment 1 plan to submit designs for this next phase.

The NGAD fighter jet serves as a command center within the Air Force's "family of systems" strategy, overseeing CCAs envisioned as multi-capable aircraft in electronic warfare, intelligence gathering, and strike roles. The program represents significant investment from the US government, with each aircraft potentially costing up to $300 million.