Air Force Innovates with Drone Prototypes in Secretive Nevada Project

The U.S. Air Force is ramping up its drone program, aiming to create a fleet of robot wingmen to revolutionize aerial combat.

At a Glance

Air Force accelerating development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) to accompany F-35s
Experimental unit in Nevada to test CCAs in operations with manned fighters
General Atomics and Anduril selected to develop and test CCA prototypes
CCAs expected to cost $20-27 million, significantly less than an F-35
Additional $150 million requested for CCA program, increasing budget by nearly 40%

Air Force Expands Drone Wingman Program

aThe U.S. Air Force is taking bold steps to expand its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, with plans to accelerate development in 2024. These autonomous drones are designed to accompany F-35s and future Next Generation Air Dominance platforms, creating a formidable air combat team. The Air Force anticipates a fleet larger than the initially planned 1,000 CCAs, signaling a significant shift in aerial warfare strategy.

To support this ambitious project, the Pentagon has submitted a reprogramming request to increase the CCA program budget by nearly 40% for fiscal year 2024. This additional $150 million will fund analyses, technology identification, concept refinement studies, and the design, building, and testing of production representative test articles.

I'm super behind, but had a lot of fun talking to @AaronMehta, @ValerieInsinna, & @michaeldmarrow about CCAs–the Air Force loyal wingman drone. The first @BreakingDefense video is a primer on CCAs.https://t.co/cOBdEwR2zn

— Stacie Pettyjohn (@StaciePettyjohn) September 25, 2024

Experimental Operations in Nevada

The Air Force is setting up an experimental operations unit at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to test CCAs in potential combat scenarios and their integration with manned fighters. This unit will be crucial in developing tactics and operational procedures for these autonomous systems. To support this effort, the Air Force is purchasing additional drone prototypes for extensive experimentation.

“One thing that I recently did was approve some additional CCA purchases to equip the experimental operations unit in order to enable that experimentation to happen using real assets,” said Andrew Hunter.

The selection of General Atomics and Anduril Industries to develop and test CCA prototypes marks a significant milestone in the program. Both companies have passed a critical design review, with plans to fly their drone offerings next year. After these flights, the Air Force will decide whether to proceed with one or both designs for mass production.

Cost-Effective Combat Power

A key focus of the CCA program is affordability. The Air Force aims to create an “affordable mass” of drones to address challenges from the rapid divestment of aging fighters. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has emphasized that CCAs need to be significantly cheaper than traditional fighter jets for mass production to be feasible.

“The service also wants CCAs to be cheap enough that they could be “attritable,” meaning the service could afford to lose some in combat.” – Frank Kendall

According to Kendall, CCAs are expected to cost roughly one-quarter to one-third of an F-35, estimating between $20 million to $27 million per unit. This cost-effectiveness is crucial for the program’s success and its ability to provide a significant force multiplier for the Air Force.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While the CCA program shows great promise, it faces several challenges. The Air Force must balance the desire for advanced capabilities with the need for affordability and timely deployment. Col. Timothy Helfrich highlighted this challenge, stating, “If we are to continue to add capability and gold plate things, we’re going to miss out on our costs and most importantly our schedule targets. And so making some of those tough trades. To say this is good enough and moving on has been a challenge, because we want a lot, but we are making those decisions.”

The Air Force hopes to have the first “increment” of CCAs in production later this decade, with fielding in “reasonable quantities” soon after. However, the future of these plans may change under a new administration, highlighting the importance of establishing a clear and sustainable strategy for the program’s long-term success.

As the U.S. Air Force pushes forward with its CCA program, it’s clear that the future of aerial combat is evolving. These autonomous wingmen have the potential to significantly enhance the capabilities of our air forces while providing a cost-effective solution to maintaining air superiority in an increasingly complex battlespace.