Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  

USAF to pick first Collaborative Combat Aircraft uncrewed fighter and autonomy software by year-end 2026

The U.S. Air Force will select winners for the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft increment by the end of 2026, choosing both an uncrewed fighter design and a mission-autonomy software provider. The decision moves the programme closer to production and operational fielding of autonomous tactical jets.

Discovered 2026-02-25T17:45:45.497795-08:00 | 2026-02-25T17:45:45.497795-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The award will determine which drone‑wingman designs enter initial production and set early procurement volumes (which drone‑wingman designs enter initial production)[source:5ebda385-a30b-4c7e-9df0-8fa31ed8fafc].
  • Picking both airframe and autonomy vendors accelerates integration and test campaigns and sharpens supplier competition, including for engines (CCA Round 2)[source:5e2dd41d-cfb4-4a8f-adb5-15f16c366393] (engine supplier competition)[source:fba400bd-7463-493e-afd2-0b725a8b6693].
  • The decision advances operational adoption of crewed–uncrewed teaming and will drive changes in training and mission integration (training and mission integration)[source:49cb1acc-105a-4117-a0bb-c0bf62e97685].

Reported By

Defense & Security Monitor Shephard Media FlightGlobal
Sources Tracked
3
First Seen
2026-02-25T17:45:45.497795-08:00
Latest Update
2026-03-04T06:33:15.900076-08:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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