Exclusive: U.S. Air Force Begins Ground Testing of Anduril’s YFQ-44A Future Unmanned Fighter Jet.

The U.S. Air Force has officially begun ground testing of the YFQ-44A, a next-generation unmanned fighter aircraft developed by defense technology company Anduril Industries. This testing phase, taking place in a state-of-the-art chamber in Costa Mesa, California, represents a pivotal step in advancing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, an ambitious initiative to redefine the future of air combat by integrating autonomous platforms with traditional crewed aircraft.
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A YFQ-44A production-representative test unmanned fighter aircraft, developed by Anduril, is staged inside a testing chamber in Costa Mesa, California. As one of the leading candidates in the U.S. Air Force’s future unmanned fighter jet program under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative, the YFQ-44A is engineered to secure air dominance through autonomous capabilities and manned-unmanned teaming in contested operational environments. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program is a cornerstone of the Air Force’s future force design, focused on developing unmanned aerial platforms that can operate seamlessly alongside manned fighter jets. The CCA concept envisions a family of autonomous aircraft that can perform a range of combat and support roles, including electronic warfare, reconnaissance, strike missions, and acting as decoys or loyal wingmen. These aircraft are not just drones but sophisticated systems designed with artificial intelligence and advanced networking capabilities to enable manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). The primary goals of the CCA initiative are to increase combat mass affordably, reduce the risk to human pilots in high-threat environments, and provide greater operational flexibility. As the global air threat landscape evolves, CCA platforms are expected to be a key enabler of air superiority, allowing the U.S. Air Force to project power and maintain a technological edge in contested and denied environments.

The YFQ-44A, internally known by the project name "Fury," is one of two production-representative test vehicles selected for rigorous evaluation in the CCA program’s Increment 1 phase. These unmanned platforms are expected to significantly enhance operational capabilities by engaging in high-risk missions alongside fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and the next-generation air dominance fighter, currently referred to as the F-47. The concept revolves around manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), in which autonomous drones act as force multipliers, scouting, jamming, striking, or absorbing enemy fire, while extending the reach and survivability of manned aircraft.

The ground tests now underway include comprehensive evaluations of the YFQ-44A’s propulsion system, avionics, autonomous command algorithms, and control interfaces. These assessments are crucial to validating the design’s airworthiness and mission readiness ahead of its scheduled first flight later this year. The ground test data will inform both design refinements and the development of mission scenarios as the Air Force pushes toward selecting a final CCA platform by fiscal year 2026.

The YFQ-44A’s design embodies a distinct shift in defense acquisition philosophy, focusing on cost-effective scalability without compromising capability. Anduril has pursued a modular and pragmatic engineering approach, incorporating commercial-off-the-shelf components such as a widely used business jet engine, simplified landing gear systems, and a streamlined airframe. This strategy significantly reduces production and maintenance costs while ensuring quicker delivery timelines, a key objective in the Air Force's push for affordable mass to sustain combat operations over extended periods in contested environments.

Aerodynamically, the YFQ-44A features a stealth-optimized, low-observable profile with blended body-wing architecture. It employs advanced composite materials and radar-absorbent coatings to minimize its signature across multiple spectrums. The airframe is designed to support flexible mission payloads, ranging from electronic warfare packages and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) sensors to precision-guided munitions. The onboard autonomy suite allows the aircraft to make tactical decisions in real time, with varying levels of human oversight, depending on the mission scenario.

As part of the broader CCA vision, the YFQ-44A is expected to operate in swarms or formations, controlled by a human pilot from a command aircraft, or independently through secure satellite and datalink communications. This allows for coordinated attacks, real-time re-tasking, and adaptive responses to battlefield conditions without endangering human pilots.

Anduril’s YFQ-44A joins General Atomics’ YFQ-42A as one of two leading contenders in the Air Force’s CCA competition. Both platforms are now in ground testing, with flight trials expected to follow in the summer of 2025. The outcome of these tests will shape not only the future of unmanned aerial combat but also broader defense doctrines as the United States seeks to maintain air superiority amid rising global threats.

The CCA program signals a transformative shift in military aviation, where speed of production, flexibility in deployment, and the integration of artificial intelligence will define success. The YFQ-44A, with its blend of affordability, autonomy, and lethal capability, stands at the forefront of this next generation of warfare.

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