U.S. Air Force Extends Collaborative Combat Aircraft Trials

The Experimental Operations Unit of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has performed further operational testing of its fledgeling Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) fleet. During a recent exercise at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, the USAF flew Anduril's semi-autonomous YFQ-44 Fury alongside unspecified crewed fighters in what it termed “a realistic operational environment.” The exercise was conducted to support the Pentagon's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine, aiming to deploy dispersed assets from smaller operating sites. 

On July 28, the USAF detailed how its experimental unit “generated multiple sorties” over a multi-day exercise, devised with the “primary goal of building the foundational tactics, techniques and procedures that will define how CCAs are integrated into the force.” According to the air force, during the exercise it demonstrated “reliability and extended range” of its uncrewed vehicle and “simulated scenarios that will inform future requirements for the platform.” 

Although the USAF did not specify which piloted fighters the CCAs integrated with during the exercise, previous evaluations have been conducted with the Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-22 combat aircraft and the Boeing F-15EX. In May, a ground-based USAF F-35 teamed up with an airborne uncrewed General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger to convey tactical autonomy commands. 

Operational Readiness

At the time, General Atomics suggested the milestone marked “the beginning of operational readiness for the [CCA] and demonstrates the near-term opportunities for force integration.”  This followed on from November 2025’s pairing between General Atomics’ MQ-20 drone and a USAF F-22.

Regardless of the platforms involved, the USAF’s most recent exercise has reiterated the perceived need for expedited integration of the new capability. “The exercise was not only a test of technology but a testament to the warfighters who are actively shaping CCA development,” said USAF chief of staff General Ken Wilsbach. “The lessons learned at Creech will directly influence how the Air Force integrates these cutting-edge concepts into future combat operations.” 

The Experimental Operations Unit was formally stood up in June 2025 specifically to accelerate the operational testing and integration of CCAs. According to the USAF, the unit has been designed to “forge the initial tactics, techniques and procedures needed to ensure CCA is integrated and tactically viable for future conflict.”