U.S. Air Force tests Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury semiautonomous combat drone under Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

The U.S. Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) conducted hands-on testing of Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury semiautonomous jet-powered combat drone at Edwards Air Force Base, California, as part of the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The exercise, which took place in early April 2026, demonstrated autonomous operations including launching, recovering, and turning the aircraft without a human pilot behind the controls, using only a ruggedized laptop for mission planning and control. The Air Force’s 412th Test Wing collaborated with EOU airmen to refine procedures for deploying and sustaining CCAs in contested environments, marking a shift toward operator-driven experimentation under the new Warfighting Acquisition System. Anduril began flight testing of the YFQ-44A in October 2025 and announced production plans in March 2026, while General Automatics initiated ground testing in May 2025 for their competing CCA design. The Air Force aims to field a fleet of at least 1,000 CCAs to conduct strike missions, support operations, and fly alongside manned aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, and F-47 fighter jets, though a final production decision between Anduril and General Automatics is expected later in 2026.

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Anduril Industries

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Costa Mesa-based defense technology company developing autonomous systems, AI, and software-defined hardware for military and national security applications, with operations in the U.S., UK, and Australia.

U.S. Air Force

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The U.S. Air Force has a significant interest in infrastructure, particularly as it relates to energy resilience, cybersecurity, and operational readiness. Their focus includes ensuring reliable access to energy, modernizing facilities, and enhancing the security of critical infrastructure assets.