Story perspectives

Air Force Awards $996M CCA Contracts, Targets 150 by 2030

6/18/2026

Summary

Air Force Awards Contracts

On June 17, 2026 Air Force awarded contracts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries, and production of the FQ-42 and FQ-44 airframes, dropping the prototype “Y” designation.
Contracts were granted to Anduril, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace and Shield AI; a provider to be chosen by summer 2027.
The Air Force aims for >150 CCA by 2030, 1,000 aircraft, $996.5 million for FY 2027 procurement, keeping under $30 million.

Summary

FQ-42A First Flight

The FQ-42A completed its first flight 15 months after contract award, setting a record speed.
Its modular airframe allows rapid swapping of mission systems and autonomy software for varied roles.
GA-ASI labels the aircraft “FQ,” with “F” for fighter and “Q” for unmanned.
GA-ASI’s genus/species approach, validated by the YFQ-42A’s August 2025 maiden flight, drives low-cost variant production.

History

Historical Context

DARPA’s early 2000s UCAV effort began with the X-45A’s first flight on 22 May 2002 and the X-47A on 23 Feb 2003, leading to the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems program that received an extra $175 million in July 2005 and planned X-45C demonstrations for 2006-2007. That proof-of-concept lineage underpins today’s 2026 Collaborative Combat Aircraft contracts involving Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and others.

1 of 3

Air Force Awards Contracts

On June 17, 2026 Air Force awarded contracts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries, and production of the FQ-42 and FQ-44 airframes, dropping the prototype “Y” designation.
Contracts were granted to Anduril, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace and Shield AI; a provider to be chosen by summer 2027.
The Air Force aims for >150 CCA by 2030, 1,000 aircraft, $996.5 million for FY 2027 procurement, keeping under $30 million.

1 / 3