Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen

The US Air Force has chosen General Atomics and Anduril to build the first loyal wingman drones, a key component of its Combat Cloud Architecture (CCA) program. The partnership will see the two companies collaborate on the development and production of the drones, which will be designed to operate alongside manned aircraft and provide real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The selection of General Atomics and Anduril comes as the Air Force continues to push forward with its plans to integrate autonomous systems into its operations, with a focus on enhancing its combat effectiveness and reducing the risk to pilots. The software vendors for the drones are still in competition, with the Air Force expected to select a winner in the coming months. The CCA program is a critical component of the Air Force's broader efforts to modernize its capabilities and stay ahead of emerging threats, and the selection of General Atomics and Anduril is seen as a major step forward in this effort.