Bill Sweetman
We’re still feeling our way with this.
The concept of fighter-like drones, called collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), holds much promise to air forces, notably to the US Air Force as it contemplates war with China. But maintaining CCAs in operation isn’t looking cheap and simple.
Air forces may instead drift towards getting some CCA effects with expendable drones that can be treated much like rounds of ammunition.
The Royal Australian Air Force has been working for more than six years with Boeing on a CCA design, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, but the US Air Force, having started from behind, is now well on its way to launching large-scale production of similar aircraft.
The test aircraft for Increment 1 of the USAF’s CCA program, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A, are starting their ground tests and are expected to fly this summer. From what we know,
their principal mission is demonstrating the use of CCAs to carry air-to-air missiles and engage targets that are tracked and identified by pilots in crewed aircraft.
Supporters say simulations and wargames have shown the value of CCAs, which look like small fighters and are faster and more manoeuvrable than other drones. Part of their value is to put more missile shots in the air, from more places and closer to the enemy.
They would present the enemy with a denser mass of threats and targets and increase confusion, reducing losses among crewed aircraft.
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