Anduril founder cites shutdown as obstacle to Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
The ongoing government shutdown is „certainly” delaying the first flight of Anduril’s entry for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingman program, according to the company’s founder, Palmer Luckey.
Shutdown Halts Progress
Speaking to reporters ahead of the annual AUSA conference, Luckey addressed the anticipated first test flight of the company’s Fury drone, designated YFQ-44A by the Air Force. This follows the initial flight of General Atomics’ YFQ–42A, a competitor in the CCA program, in August.
Luckey expressed support for the aircraft and the Air Force’s evaluation process, stating, „My engineers tell me that if we push the button … [the drone] will take off, it’ll fly around, and it’ll come back home. The Air Force is going through a process of evaluation that is very, very reasonable, I think.” However, he added, „Obviously, now the problem is we’re into the shutdown.”
When asked to clarify if this meant a delay in the first flight, Luckey responded, „Certainly … a lot of stuff stops moving,” lamenting, „that’s something that is kind of out of my control. I can’t fund the government.”
Ground Testing Underway
According to Luckey, Anduril handed over the drone to the Air Force in the summer, and ground testing, including fueling, taxiing, and weapons integration, is currently in progress.
Previously, Anduril’s vice president for air dominance and strike, Diem Salmon, attributed the missed summer target for the first flight to ongoing software development for a „semi-autonomous” flight. Despite the delay, she maintained that the company remains „well ahead of the program schedule” for this milestone.
CCA Program Competition
Anduril and General Atomics are competing in the first round of the CCA program, following the Air Force’s selection from a larger pool of vendors last year. Service officials have indicated that multiple contractors, including new entrants, may be selected for production in the first round. Awards for conceptual contracts in the CCA program’s second round are expected in the coming months.
Startup Shield AI has been selected to provide autonomy for Anduril’s drone bid, while defense giant RTX is supporting General Atomics’ platform, as previously reported by Breaking Defense.
Air Force Plans for Drone Integration
The Air Force is currently refining its strategy for employing these drones. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the service’s nominee for the next chief of staff, has proposed operating the unmanned wingmen in independent squadrons separate from the manned aircraft they will support.
During his confirmation hearing on Oct. 9, Wilsbach stated, „We’re thinking that they’re not going to be embedded in current fighter squadrons, but rather they’re going to be their own squadrons, and they’ll be dispersed,” adding that „there’ll be a strategic basing process” for placing the drones.
He also suggested that the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, and active duty components could all be considered to operate the drones.
