Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)

The Bashi pilot vehicle interface is at the heart of the U.S. Air Force’s goal to introduce collaborative combat aircraft in operational service by the end of the decade.

Honda eVTOL flies; helping to avoid contrails; bio-based carbon fiber advances; Korea’s engine independence bid; and Airbus’ Canadian tech hub.

Boeing says it has wrapped up MQ-28 Ghost Bat CCA testing at the Point Mugu Sea Range over the Pacific Ocean.

The German market is an early proving ground for companies vying to equip European air forces with collaborative combat aircraft to augment crewed fighters.

South Korea has launched projects to develop a 4,500-lb. thrust-class high-bypass turbofan for collaborative combat aircraft and more-electric business jets.

GE Aerospace on May 19 revealed a new small turbofan design optimized for the cost profile of the emerging collaborative combat aircraft market.

The Dutch military explores penetrating ISR and satellite upgrades to enhance intelligence capabilities and address vulnerabilities in space systems.

Turkey has joined the small club of countries that have demonstrated autonomous collaborative platform operations between crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Indonesia could become the first international customer for Baykar’s Kizilelma autonomous combat aircraft.

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to reshape its aviation branch with the arrival of autonomous collaborative combat aircraft by 2030.

The F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter’s increased combat radius favors a missile-carrying CCA that could be deployed by crewed fighters and bombers.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Since Shield AI unveiled its high-end vertical takeoff and landing collaborative combat aircraft last fall, there has been plenty of skepticism.

Honeywell will transfer F124 jet engine assembly permanently to Phoenix from Taiwan.

Australia has signed an agreement with Japan to work together in the field of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) using the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat.

The U.S. Air Force kicked off testing for the Anduril YFQ-44A prototypes assigned to the Experimental Operations Unit to help learn tactics and procedures for a new class of Collaborative Combat Aircraft now in development.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. said it paused operations with its YFQ-42A prototype following a mishap after takeoff at its airport in California.

Anduril is working on hypersonic strike systems and large air vehicles, pushing its defense technology portfolio beyond subsonic cruise missiles and CCA.

Anduril has started assembling more prototypes of the autonomous YFQ-44 fighter at the newly opened Arsenal-1 weapons production complex near Columbus, Ohio.

The Netherlands defense ministry is expanding its interest in U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiatives.

Aviation Week has identified $23.1 billion in open opportunities to supply CCAs between 2026 and 2035 that have officially been announced by operators.

Northrop Grumman completed a new right of passage for aspiring Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) producers.

The F-47 and B-21 are the crown jewels of next-generation air dominance and strike capability, but they will also be part of a larger family of systems.

European efforts to demonstrate CCA efforts are gaining pace, with Airbus saying it is looking to fly two modified Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie systems before year end.

Leonardo plans to demonstrate its collaborative combat aircraft technology in flight as early as May, CEO Roberto Cingolani says.