US Air Force CCA drones fly in formation and run air combat maneuvers with Shield AI software
Semi-autonomous drones in the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program have flown in formation and carried out air combat maneuvers for the first time, according to Shield AI, which supplies the autonomy software involved.
The company said its Hivemind software, which handles piloting for CCA flights, let several aircraft fly as a "multi-ship" formation and perform beyond-visual-range counter-air tactics. The exercise took place on Oct. 26. Shield AI's release did not say how many aircraft took part or which CCA model was flown, Defense News reported.
“We are excited that the aircraft and mission systems are reaching a level of integration to start showing what Hivemind can really do.”
According to the company statement, each flight produces data that feeds into a software release, which in turn informs decisions on testing and fielding.
Wesley said the combined Hivemind and aircraft software process is close to a point where the Air Force could complete a sortie, push an overnight software update and send the aircraft up again the following day.
Program funding and recent milestones
The demonstration follows an Air Force announcement that it intends to field 500 combat-ready semi-autonomous systems by 2032, within a total fleet of 1,000. The service's fiscal 2027 budget request for the CCA program totals $2.37 billion, Defense News reported. Of that, $996.5 million is for procurement, $1.37 billion for continued research and development, and $150 million for advance procurement in the next fiscal year.
Last month, an F-22 Raptor took tactical command and in-flight control of a YFQ-44A, a CCA built by Anduril. The F-22 acted as a "quarterback" and gave the drone high-level directives, according to Defense News.
Shield AI also announced last week that it will acquire radar maker Echodyne in a $5.3 billion transaction to broaden its drone-warfare capabilities. Echodyne can produce next-generation solid-state radar systems, and the deal was described as supporting Shield AI's expansion into other areas of unmanned systems.
