Procurement Note: Air Force Announces Expanded Collaborative Combat Aircraft Timeline

The Air Force on Wednesday released an updated acquisition timeline for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which envisions unmanned semi-autonomous aircraft operating in coordinated formation with crewed fighters. The updated timeline advances the program's initial operational capability date to late 2028, approximately eighteen months earlier than the previously announced date.

The program currently has two primary industry partners: General Atomics, which is developing the YFQ-42A variant, and Anduril Industries, which is developing the YFQ-44A variant. Both variants are expected to reach initial production in 2027, with initial operational capability following in late 2028 per the updated timeline.

The revised timeline is described in Air Force materials as reflecting "accelerated integration testing." The materials do not describe what, specifically, is being accelerated, or what, in the prior timeline, had been proceeding at insufficient speed.

Per-unit cost estimates remain undisclosed. The program's total acquisition objective is now 1,000 aircraft.

— G.M.