Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)

The Royal Navy plans to demonstrate the first carrier-based autonomous combat aircraft takeoff outside China, partnering with Northrop Grumman on a 2027 trial.

Northrop Grumman on Nov. 10 confirmed plans by the UK Royal Navy to demonstrate the YFQ-48 Talon Blue Collaborative Combat Aircraft at sea next year.

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

European industry is pushing ahead with collaborative combat aircraft, but government funding has yet to match those ambitions.

Airbus is considering a more-sophisticated, mission-specific Collaborative Combat Aircraft as it looks to expand its portfolio of uncrewed combat aircraft.

Airbus is preparing to flight test a tablet-based interface that could allow Eurofighter pilots to control Collaborative Combat Aircraft without modifying their fighters’ avionics.

Germany has committed to providing collaborative combat aircraft air-to-ground capabilities to NATO, according to the German Defense Ministry.

A report to lawmakers details the Air Force’s desire to increase its fleet size and notes its ongoing sustainment woes.

The UK government has committed to spend the equivalent of 3% of GDP on defense by 2030 and meet NATO defense spending targets of 3.5% by 2035.

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) could acquire more than one type of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) under its emerging Storm Fighter program.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. is partnering with Boeing’s Spirit Defense for production of its FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force faces an uphill climb to increase its fighter end strength, telling Congress it needs steady funding and a healthy industrial base to meet its target.

A series of acquisitions by Kratos in a different era of the defense business appear to be perfectly aligned for new military requirements.

Airbus completes the first flight of a Kratos Valkyrie CCA demonstrator in Sweden, targeting a 2028 weapons release test for Germany’s emerging CCA requirement.

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

Northrop Grumman has flown its YFQ-48A Talon Blue prototype for the first time, opening the flight-test phase of the self-funded demonstrator for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market.

U.S. Navy tests MQ-20 autonomy mission planning as it prepares to develop and field future Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force has received the first FQ-42 Vengeance from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) at Creech AFB, Nevada.

There is a disconnect on propulsion needs for future increments of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, a key industry player argues.

Lockheed Martin now plans to build five prototypes of its Skunk Works-designed Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. plans to draw on its Collaborative Combat Aircraft experience to develop the autonomous capabilities for its new Wildfire proposal.

Collaborative combat aircraft are set to become major military aircraft production items.

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

AI-enabled systems routinely fly mock dogfights between fighters within visual range of each other. The next step is to unlock air combat beyond visual range.

Saab and GKN have secured additional research and technology contracts in support of Sweden’s future combat aircraft pathway.