Every briefing tagged “general atomics” · back to the wire

Autonomous Systems & AI · Unmanned Combat Aircraftus air forcegeneral atomicsandurilcollaborative combat aircraft

Air Force Plans Fleet of 1,000 Autonomous Drones by 2032, Names CCA Platforms

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced on September 14, 2026, that the service intends to field at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft and 500 additional cheap ISR and strike drones within six years—a significant escalation of its autonomous air combat ambitions.

Sep 14, 202620:21

Autonomous Systems · Collaborative Combat Aircraftus air forcegeneral atomicsandurilshield ai

Air Force Awards First CCA Production Contracts to General Atomics and Anduril, Keeping Both Designs Alive

The FQ-42 and FQ-44 Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs are both cleared for production in a deliberate dual-vendor structure, with Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace separately contracted for the autonomy layer.

Jun 18, 202618:37

Unmanned Systems & Autonomy · Collaborative Combat Aircraftu.s. air forcegeneral atomicsandurilshield ai

Air Force Awards First CCA Production Contracts to General Atomics and Anduril in Dual-Track Decision

Rather than picking a single winner, the Air Force is advancing both the FQ-42 and FQ-44 Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs into manufacturing simultaneously, marking the program's first crossing from development into production.

Jun 18, 202618:37