F-22 pilot controls YFQ-44A Fury in flight during US Air Force demonstration

An F-22 Raptor controlled a YFQ-44A Fury in flight, marking another milestone in the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

In early October, the fighter pilot exercised airborne tactical command and control of the aircraft produced by Anduril, according to the US Air Force.

The pilot served as an airborne coordinator, issuing high-level directives. The unmanned, semi-autonomous aircraft’s autonomy software interpreted and executed them in real time, conducting simulated maneuvers and combat activities.

Directives executed in real time

“This achievement demonstrates what is possible when we are aligned with industry on a shared priority: delivering capability to warfighters at unprecedented speed,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

“We are bringing urgency to every phase of acquisition, from rapid integration and learning in flight through rigorous evaluation, to turn promising technologies into combat capability at the pace dictated by the threat,” he added.

Personnel from the 412th Test Wing, the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, the 309th Software Engineering Group, the Experimental Operations Unit, and the F-22 System Program Office contributed to the demonstration.

The CCA Software Autonomy and Teaming Branch also took part. The US Air Force plans to use the data collected to guide software integration, developmental testing, and the development of additional CCA employment concepts.

Goal of 500 systems by 2032

The test follows other milestones in the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The US Air Force has announced its intention to field 500 systems that are semi-autonomous and combat-ready by 2032, within an overall fleet of 1,000 aircraft.

In July, Anduril’s Fury conducted its first live-fire test at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft completed the full sequence of a beyond-line-of-sight attack against a simulated target.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force has made progress with General Atomics’ FQ-42A Vengeance. The aircraft was delivered last month to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to continue routine test and evaluation activities.

The base has not yet been selected

Anduril has not yet disclosed which US Air Force base will host the Fury. However, personnel at Creech had already operated the company’s aircraft during an Agile Combat Employment exercise.

The activity enabled airmen to complete sorties and begin defining basic tactics and procedures. These elements will help shape how Collaborative Combat Aircraft are integrated into the force.