U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-44A Achieves First Semi-Autonomous Flight

Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A, developed under the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, completed its first flight on October 31, at a test site in California.

The aircraft flew semi-autonomously, controlling its own flight path and throttle and landing automatically while operators oversaw the mission remotely.

The flight occurred 556 days after the program’s clean-sheet design. The YFQ-44A is designed to operate alongside crewed fighters or independently, enhancing survivability and mission effectiveness through autonomy and mass production.

Flight testing will evaluate the aircraft’s maneuverability, range, autonomy, stealth, and integration with U.S.A.F. systems. It also aims to refine manned-unmanned teaming tactics that will shape future air combat operations.

Anduril plans to begin prototype production of the YFQ-44A in the first half of 2026 at its 5-million-square-foot Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. The company says the production line will use a software-driven system called ArsenalOS and rely on established manufacturing processes to scale production efficiently.

The YFQ-44A’s semi-autonomous systems are designed to execute mission plans independently, identify targets, and manage operations without a pilot in control. Its onboard software also monitors maintenance and performance to support continuous readiness.

Anduril and the Air Force will continue flight testing in the months ahead to refine autonomy capabilities and expand collaborative combat operations before entering large-scale production in 2026.