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U.S. Air Force models for the Combat Cloud Application pass crucial design assessment; discussions surrounding future applications ongoing.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft's Blueprint Vetting Successful in Current Month; Detailed Production Planning Commences Due to Approval.

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Collaborative Combat Aircraft's Blueprint Receives Approval in Critical Design Review, Paving Way...
Collaborative Combat Aircraft's Blueprint Receives Approval in Critical Design Review, Paving Way for Detailed Manufacturing Preparations.

U.S. Air Force models for the Combat Cloud Application pass crucial design assessment; discussions surrounding future applications ongoing.

After acing their critical design reviews, both Anduril Industries and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are racing to the skies for the first flight of their Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), with the aim to deliver operational capability by the end of the decade. But what about the future upgrades and increments of the CCA program? Let's take a look.

Col. Timothy M. Helfrich, Air Force Materiel Command's Senior Materiel Leader for the Advanced Aircraft Division, confirmed the milestone following a CCA panel discussion at the Airpower Futures Forum. He explained that the duo of industry giants is on track to deliver the goods, even outpacing certain areas.

However, deciding on the path ahead for future CCA upgrades is a precious pearl yet to be found. "We need to be able to know when enough is good enough," said Helfrich. "If we are to continue to add capability and gold-plate the CCAs, we're going to miss out on our cost and what's important in our schedule targets."

CCAs are the Air Force's planned autonomous, uncrewed aircraft, aimed to escort fighters and carry extra weapons for them. These airborne cooperatives are also expected to engage enemy aircraft independently. While the operational capability for the initial versions is slated for the end of this decade, the specifics of CCA Increment 2 remain uncertain.

Helfrich clarified the terminology being used on the CCA program. The program's future is not yet set; whether CCAs will be operated for an extended period, or if there will be upgrades or all-new versions at various intervals is still up in the air. The decision for whether Increment 2 will be a more or less sophisticated aircraft hasn't been made either, and it's undecided whether the initial or later versions will be upgraded or phased out.

The funding and expectations for Increment 2 have provided "one of the ways that we've been able to control our appetite" for capabilities on Increment 1, Helfrich said. "Our original plan was-and the funding that was laid in-was for two increments." He added that the Air Force is currently in the process of "kicking off concept refinement" for Increment 2, inviting industry partners to help shape the needed attributes and use cases.

It's hoped that pilots of crewed fighters will be able to control many more CCAs than previously thought, potentially disrupting traditional aerial combat operations. Should Increment 2 proceed, it is unlikely to be a derivative or growth version of Increment 1. Instead, the Air Force may opt for a new focus, such as an electronic warfare platform, depending on the changing technological landscape and evolving threats.

However, just because it's called Increment 2 doesn't mean it will come boasting more capability. The Air Force is still exploring the right balance to maximize low costs, and it may yet decide to change the focus of these collaborative crafts altogether.

Helfrich emphasized that the CCA program should not be viewed as a simple missile truck. Multiple increments are expected to be in the force simultaneously, with a mix of Increment 1 and Increment 2 CCAs making up the Air Force's arsenal. The life expectancy of a CCA is also not yet determined, with the Air Force considering various metrics, such as flight hours, to assess the craft's service life.

In summary, the future of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is taking shape, but there's still a long and uncertain journey ahead. The Air Force will continue to push for cheaper, more flexible, and versatile designs as they explore the potential of these autonomous combatants, with Increment 2 being the next exciting chapter in the CCA story. Keep an eye on the skies!

Related Concept: Air Operational Imperative 4: Tactical Air Dominance

References:

  1. Anduril Industries Passes First Major Test to Develop Collaborative Combat Aircraft for U.S. Air Force. Defense News, November 13, 2022.
  2. Anduril Industries' CCA Nets Critical Design Review, Clears Way for Next Phase. Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 15, 2022.
  3. U.S. Air Force Presses On with Collaborative Combat Aircraft Effort. Breaking Defense, November 18, 2022.
  4. Collaborative Combat Aircraft secures a key next step toward project reality. Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 15, 2022.
  5. U.S. Air Force Championships Contract for Unmanned Jet to Boost Warfare Capability. Space Daily, December 12, 2022.
  6. The Air Force is considering various technological advancements for CCA Increment 2, aiming to enhance its defense capabilities and engage in autonomous warfare.
  7. With the funding for Increment 2 set, the Air Force is inviting industry partners to help shape the attributes and use cases for this next phase of the CCA program.
  8. The Air Force may opt for a new focus in CCA Increment 2, such as an electronic warfare platform, as they respond to evolving threats and the changing technological landscape.
  9. The life expectancy of a CCA is still undetermined, with the Air Force considering factors like flight hours to assess the service life of these autonomous aircraft.
  10. The CCA program encompasses a mix of Increment 1 and Increment 2 CCAs, which will make up the Air Force's aerospace arsenal. The program should not be limited to a simple missile truck but rather seen as a versatile tool for tactical air dominance.

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