Anduril’s Drone Prototype for USAF CCA Program Completes First Flight
Anduril’s drone prototype for the US Air Force’s (USAF) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, designated YFQ-44A, has completed its maiden flight.
However, the California-based defense firm and the USAF did not disclose details about the drone’s performance during its first flight, such as the aircraft configuration, flight time, or issues encountered.
It follows after the first flight test of General Atomics’s YFQ-42A — the second prototype aircraft selected for the CCA’s first increment — in August 2025.
Both companies were chosen in April 2024, completed the critical design review in November of the same year, and began ground tests in May 2025.
Meanwhile, Anduril is also working towards the drone’s mass production.
It is building and testing a new type of production system using the “ArsenalOS” common software backbone, as well as constructing Arsenal-1, a 5-million-square-foot (464,515-square-meter) production facility in Columbus, Ohio.
According to the company, they are “on track” to begin producing the YFQ-44A at the Ohio facility in the first half of 2026.
YFQ-44A
The YFQ-44A is a Group 5 uncrewed aerial system leveraging Anduril’s Lattice software, designed “to enhance survivability, lethality, and mission effectiveness by teaming with crewed fighter aircraft or operating independently.”
Integration of weapons onto the aircraft is already underway.
In 2026, the company and the USAF will develop tactics for the platform, carry out autonomous missions involving multiple drones alongside a crewed fighter, and operate beyond controlled test sites, according to Breaking Defense.
CCA Program
The CCA program aims to develop autonomous or semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft to work alongside piloted fighters such as the F-22 Raptor as their “loyal wingmen” performing varied missions, including strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.
General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A remain under development and are slated for further trials at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California and operational assessments at Nellis AFB in Nevada.
Once operational, the CCA program’s first aircraft readiness unit at Beale AFB, also in California, will maintain the drones to ensure they are ready for worldwide deployment.
