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DVIDS / U.S. DoD

USAF CCAs begin weapons-integration and captive-carry tests; AI combat‑ID flown on F‑35

The U.S. Air Force has advanced its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program into weapons‑integration and captive‑carry testing, fitting inert AIM‑120s to platforms like Anduril's Fury and planning live‑fire trials later this year. Separately, Lockheed Martin flight‑tested an AI combat‑identification model that displayed independent ID on an F‑35.

2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00

FlightGlobal

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman unveils YFQ-48A "Talon Blue" — USAF-designated autonomous wingman for CCA

2026-02-23T09:10:20.547296-08:00

Bloomberg

Pentagon accelerates F/A-XX development with $750M boost, intensifying Boeing–Northrop competition

2026-02-23T16:13:17.493865-08:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes Beijing is advancing multiple collaborative combat aircraft airframes, but analysts argue the decisive contest is in autonomy, mission software and networking rather than hardware. China’s emphasis on AI-enabled command-and-control aims to field interoperable ‘drone wingmen’ and integrated sensor networks at scale.

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes

FlightGlobal

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy L3Harris is broadening the mission set of its SkyWarden/OA‑1K Skyraider II close‑air‑support turboprop with a gun pod, onboard signals‑intelligence sensors and longer‑range missiles, and says international demand could equal the U.S. 75‑aircraft program of record. The company is pressing for a larger U.S. buy to sustain production.

2026-02-23T18:00:18.883319-08:00

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy

DVIDS / U.S. DoD

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USAF CCAs begin weapons-integration and captive-carry tests; AI combat‑ID flown on F‑35 The U.S. Air Force has advanced its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program into weapons‑integration and captive‑carry testing, fitting inert AIM‑120s to platforms like Anduril's Fury and planning live‑fire trials later this year. Separately, Lockheed Martin flight‑tested an AI combat‑identification model that displayed independent ID on an F‑35.

2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00

USAF CCAs begin weapons-integration and captive-carry tests; AI combat‑ID flown on F‑35

Bloomberg

Pentagon accelerates F/A-XX development with $750M boost, intensifying Boeing–Northrop competition The Pentagon has moved to accelerate development of its carrier‑based next‑generation stealth fighter — the F/A‑XX — allocating roughly $750 million to speed work to replace the F/A‑18 Super Hornet. The funding sharpens a head‑to‑head competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman to build the aircraft.

2026-02-23T16:13:17.493865-08:00

Pentagon accelerates F/A-XX development with $750M boost, intensifying Boeing–Northrop competition

FlightGlobal

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USAF awards small‑turbofan design contracts to Honeywell and GE–Kratos for CCA propulsion The U.S. Air Force awarded design contracts to Honeywell and GE–Kratos to advance two small turbofan engines for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market. Honeywell received a prototype design award for SkyShot 1600; GE and Kratos won $12.4 million to complete GEK1500 preliminary design.

2026-02-23T12:30:35.063185-08:00

USAF awards small‑turbofan design contracts to Honeywell and GE–Kratos for CCA propulsion

Air Data News

India signals interest in joining Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth‑generation fighter India has told France it is open to exploring participation in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the Franco‑German‑Spanish sixth‑generation fighter programme, signalling potential expansion of industrial and strategic ties as partners continue to negotiate roles and governance for the project.

2026-02-23T11:31:39.117189-08:00

India signals interest in joining Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth‑generation fighter

DefenseNews.com

Canada and Denmark order MQ-9B SkyGuardian from General Dynamics, advancing Arctic ISR cooperation Canada and Denmark have both placed orders for MQ-9B unmanned systems from General Dynamics, a shared platform some experts say could enable closer Arctic surveillance and interoperability in the High North. The parallel purchases open opportunities for coordinated ISR missions, logistics commonality and data sharing across high-latitude operations.

2026-02-23T09:31:08.971831-08:00

Canada and Denmark order MQ-9B SkyGuardian from General Dynamics, advancing Arctic ISR cooperation

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman unveils YFQ-48A "Talon Blue" — USAF-designated autonomous wingman for CCA Northrop Grumman is advancing autonomous air combat with the YFQ-48A Talon Blue, the U.S. Air Force‑designated variant of its company‑funded Project Talon. Designed as a loyal 'wingman' to support crewed fighters, Talon Blue is being pitched into the USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort.

2026-02-23T09:10:20.547296-08:00

Northrop Grumman unveils YFQ-48A "Talon Blue" — USAF-designated autonomous wingman for CCA

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

USAF CCAs begin weapons-integration and captive-carry tests; AI combat‑ID flown on F‑35

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes

Northrop Grumman unveils YFQ-48A "Talon Blue" — USAF-designated autonomous wingman for CCA

Pentagon accelerates F/A-XX development with $750M boost, intensifying Boeing–Northrop competition

News Timeline