YFQ-44A undergoes captive carry evaluations as collaborative combat aircraft program progresses
The U.S. Air Force released an image of Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury Fighter Drone collaborative combat aircraft carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) during flight testing, marking a new phase in weapons integration for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The aircraft, which does not currently have an internal weapons bay, is being evaluated with externally mounted “test munitions” to estimate structural performance, aerodynamics, and safe separation characteristics. Air Force officials stated that the testing follows procedures used for crewed aircraft and that weapons-release authority will remain under human control.
The YFQ-44A is one of two designs selected for Increment 1 of the CCA program, alongside General Atomics’ YFQ-42A. The CCA initiative focuses on uncrewed aircraft operating next to crewed fighters to expand sensing and strike capacity. The Air Force has not announced a timeline for live-fire testing but indicated that current evaluations are developmental. Similar efforts have been pursued internationally, including recent testing of armed uncrewed aircraft by Australia and Boeing.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Air Force Chief of Staff General Kenneth Wilsbach as he facilitates the development and testing of the combat drones.
- For the men and women of the U.S. Air Force and defense leaders responsible for testing and deploying emerging technologies.
- For Secretary Hegseth as he oversees decision-making in the development of advanced military systems.
Sources: Air Data News, The Aviationist
