Critical Testing and Development Efforts Prioritized, Ensuring Continuity
The Air Force is protecting its nascent drone wingman program, known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), from the effects of the ongoing government shutdown. This move ensures that the program can proceed without interruption, a service official revealed today.
„No Impacts” to CCA Program: Personnel Return from Furlough
„There are currently no impacts to the Department of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program as a result of the government shutdown,” the official told Breaking Defense in a statement. „Personnel supporting critical test and development activities were identified as excepted and returned from furlough to ensure continuity of operations and avoid any potential delay. The program remains ahead of schedule, and flight testing is proceeding as planned.”
Anduril’s Drone Flight Not Yet Delayed: Initial Concerns Recede
The statement came days after Palmer Luckey, the founder of defense tech firm Anduril, told reporters that the shutdown would „certainly” delay the first flight of the company’s YFQ-44A drone, one of two prototypes under contract for the CCA effort. However, Luckey has since walked back those comments.
Luckey Clarifies: „Haven’t Actually Seen That Yet”
„Last week I said that the shutdown has already delayed the first flight for our Collaborative Combat Aircraft. What I meant to say is that if the shutdown continues, there could be impacts to our schedule, but we haven’t actually seen that yet,” Luckey said in a statement today.
Flight Testing Proceeding as Planned: Specific Timeline Unconfirmed
Anduril’s drone was originally expected to fly this summer, but Air Force Secretary Troy Meink recently predicted its maiden flight would take place around the middle of this month. The Air Force did not confirm if that specific timeline is still intact. General Atomics’ YFQ-42A prototype drone took flight in August.
