Anduril’s YFQ-44A makes first flight, advancing USAF drone-wingman competition - AeroTime

Anduril’s YFQ-44A Completes First Flight

Anduril’s YFQ-44A, one of two jet-powered uncrewed aircraft competing in the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, successfully completed its maiden flight on October 31, 2025. This achievement represents a significant advancement toward deploying autonomous drone “wingmen” to support manned fighter jets.

Details of the Flight

The flight took place at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California. During the flight, the YFQ-44A demonstrated autonomous capabilities by executing a mission plan independently, managing flight control and throttle adjustments without human intervention, and safely returning to land under operator supervision.

“This aircraft is ushering in this new paradigm with incredible technical precision,” said Jason Levin, Anduril’s Senior Vice President for Air Dominance and Strike. “It executes a mission plan on its own, manages flight control and throttle adjustment independent of human command, and returns to land at the push of a button.”

Program Progress and Competitors

This milestone makes Anduril the second team in the CCA Increment 1 competition to reach the flight-test phase. The first was General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, whose YFQ-42A prototype completed its first flight in August 2025 at Gray Butte, California.

Summary

Anduril’s successful first flight of the YFQ-44A marks a key step toward integrating autonomous drone wingmen into USAF operations, highlighting significant progress in the competitive CCA program.

more

AeroTime AeroTime — 2025-11-04

More News