Anduril’s YFQ-44A Completes First Flight in USAF Drone-Wingman Program
The YFQ-44A, a jet-powered uncrewed aircraft developed by Anduril Industries, successfully performed its inaugural flight on October 31, 2025. This marks a significant advancement in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to deploy autonomous “wingmen” to support piloted fighters.
The flight took place at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California. During the mission, the YFQ-44A independently executed its flight plan, controlling flight dynamics and throttle without direct human input, and returned safely under operator guidance.
“This aircraft is ushering in this new paradigm with incredible technical precision,” said Jason Levin, Anduril’s Senior Vice President for Air Dominance and Strike. “It executes a mission plan on its own, manages flight control and throttle adjustment independent of human command, and returns to land at the push of a button.”
Anduril is now the second company in the CCA Increment 1 competition to reach the flight-test stage. Earlier, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems achieved a similar milestone with its YFQ-42A prototype, which first flew in August 2025 at Gray Butte, California.
Key Points
- YFQ-44A is part of the USAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft effort to develop autonomous drone wingmen.
- The drone performed autonomous navigation, flight control, and throttle adjustments during its first flight.
- Flight test occurred at Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA.
- Anduril is the second company to advance to flight tests, following General Atomics’ YFQ-42A.
Anduril’s successful flight highlights rapid progress in drone autonomy technology for military applications.
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