The American Air Force, through the mouth of the responsible deputy secretary, Frank Kendle, announced the reduction of candidate companies for the next phase of the CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) program, which is known to be intended to develop unmanned aircraft that will become the “wingman” as of today’s fifth generation fighters (F-35) as much as 6her generation (NGAD).
Although difficult to estimate at this time, CCAs will be the most significant development in the application of airpower since the age of gas propulsion.
According to the announcement the startup Anduril and (our acquaintance) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) will be the two companies that will undertake the construction and then the testing of prototypes, a choice that leaves out the three “big ones” in the space Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, but companies that will continue to participate in the program along with 20 others, in individual project assignments.
The CCAs, in which there is expected to be an extensive use of AI (Artificial Intelligence), are intended to accompany manned planes in missions, either by “opening” the way for them, or by taking on the most dangerous tasks in dealing with integrated air defense (Integrated Air Defense), of the kind that Russia is building today (and with S-500) but mainly China.
But CCAs are also expected to operate with the new B-21A Raider strategic bomber, which is undergoing testing, while the drones themselves are also expected to carry weapons or other MEAMs (Unmanned Combat Aircraft).
Related article in the “Flight” of May, which is published as an emergency on 15/05
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