US Air Force Advances Next-Gen Air Dominance with Anduril and General Atomics CCA Funding

 The US Air Force (USAF) has decided to continue funding Anduril and General Atomics for detailed design, manufacturing, and testing of near-prototype platforms under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. This marks a significant step towards enhancing the Air Force's next-generation air dominance capabilities. The CCA program is a critical part of the USAF’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems, which aims to maintain air superiority with a mix of manned and unmanned systems, reducing human risk, lowering costs, and increasing efficiency.

CCA is a US program for unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) designed to work in tandem with next-generation manned aircraft, such as sixth-generation fighters and bombers like the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Unlike traditional UCAVs, CCAs incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their battlefield survivability, offering a more affordable alternative to manned aircraft with similar capabilities.

From 2023 to 2028, the USAF plans to invest over $6 billion in CCA programs. Success in this initiative could reduce the need for additional manned squadrons, balancing affordability with capability. CCAs will elevate human pilots to mission commanders, with AI handling tactical control of cost-effective robotic craft. These multi-role aircraft can be modular, performing various tasks such as sensors, shooters, and weapons carriers, and potentially acting as decoys or aerial refuelers.

The CCA program will integrate AI and autonomy to complete missions without constant human intervention, enhancing situational awareness, lethality, and survivability in contested environments. DARPA’s Longshot UAV, which extends mission range and reduces risks to manned aircraft, is an example of such technology.

Two years ago, the USAF announced its intent and broad requirements for the desired CCA. As part of the 2024 budget, contracts have been awarded to Anduril and General Atomics, with nearly twenty other companies remaining as potential industry partners. The program aims to make production decisions by 2026 and operationalize the systems by 2030, including international partnerships to achieve economies of scale and interoperability with NATO and other allies.

Initial production contracts could include at least 1,000 CCAs, potentially pairing two CCAs with each of the 200 NGAD platforms and the 300 F-35s. The CCAs will enhance the USAF’s capability to counter growing aerial threats, particularly from China, by performing complex tasks such as electronic warfare and aerial combat.

DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program is a key contributor to the CCA initiative. ACE aims to increase trust in combat autonomy through human-machine collaborative aerial engagements. It applies AI to realistic dogfighting scenarios and scales autonomous dogfighting to more complex, multi-aircraft operational-level simulations, preparing for future live experimentation in Mosaic Warfare.

General Atomics plans to build the CCA using components from the MQ-9 Reaper, with the project still in its initial stages. Anduril, which acquired Blue Force Technologies and its “Fury” stealthy aggressor drone program, is another major player. Their designs, such as General Atomics’ “Gambit” and Anduril’s “Fury,” will leverage digital engineering and AI to enhance air dominance.

The CCA program represents a pivotal shift in aerial combat, leveraging AI and autonomous systems to create a cost-effective, powerful air force. With a planned investment of $6 billion through 2028, the USAF aims to deploy CCAs at a large scale, enhancing the safety and performance of current and future fighter fleets in response to proliferating hostile stealth fighters.

US Military Expands Stealth Technology for Bombers, AEW&C, and Support Aircraft

 

On May 22, 2024, the US Air Force (USAF) unveiled the first official photos of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber in flight, following its inaugural flight last year. Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, released additional images showcasing the bomber's takeoff, flight, and presence at Edwards Air Force Base. The B-21 Raider joins the B-2 Spirit as the only active stealth bombers, with China's Xi’an H-20 expected by 2025 and Russia's Tupolev PAK DA by 2027. These aircraft represent the forefront of heavy stealth technology.

Stealth Technology Overview Stealth technology involves integrating various low-observable (LO) technologies to significantly reduce an aircraft's detectability. This includes minimizing radar cross-section (RCS), acoustic signature, thermal imprint, and other detectable attributes. The term "stealth" became widely known in the late 1980s with the F-117 stealth fighter's deployment during the 1991 Gulf War.

Key techniques include tilting or removing vertical stabilizers, applying radar-absorbing materials (RAM) to leading edges, and internalizing weapons and fuel tanks. Advanced materials and coatings, such as dielectric composites and transparent conductors for cockpit canopies, further reduce radar reflections. Placing engines within the wing or fuselage reduces infrared signatures, and passive infrared and low-light TV sensors help maintain stealth by avoiding active emissions.

Operational Use of Stealth Technology Stealth technology saw its first operational use with the F-117 in the Gulf War, later deployed in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Stealth helicopters, like the modified Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk used in the 2011 Osama bin Laden raid, also utilized stealth features. More recent combat applications include the F-22 over Syria and the Israeli F-35I in Syrian and Iranian airspace.

Limitations and Countermeasures Despite its advantages, stealth technology has limitations. Low-frequency radars can detect stealth aircraft, though with reduced accuracy. Infrared search and track (IRST) systems can detect aircraft heat signatures. Stealth design involves trade-offs in aerodynamics, development time, and cost, often requiring larger internal bays and specific maintenance procedures. Additionally, counters to stealth technology continue to evolve.

Stealth Aircraft Developments The B-2 Spirit, produced from 1987 to 2000, remains the only operational stealth bomber, with a wingspan of 172 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 170,600 kg. The new B-21 Raider, smaller and estimated at $700 million per unit, aims to replace the aging B-2 fleet. The USAF plans to invest $203 billion over 30 years to develop and operate at least 100 B-21s. China's H-20 and Russia's PAK DA are still in development, with limited details available.

Future of Stealth Technology The USAF's plans include stealthy flight refueling aircraft (FRAs) to support closer refueling of stealth fighters and bombers in contested environments. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has proposed concepts for stealth tankers, and Boeing's MQ-25 Stingray is in development as a stealth refueling drone.

Stealth AEW&C aircraft, such as the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, aim to reduce detectability through design modifications. Future stealth initiatives may also encompass cargo and special operations aircraft, with flying wing designs offering potential solutions for stealth transport.

Innovative Stealth Concepts Emerging technologies, such as metasurfaces and plasma stealth, promise further advancements in RCS reduction. Adaptive aero-elastic wings and fluidic controls are also under exploration, though these remain costly and in developmental stages.

Overall, the USAF's investment in stealth technology for various aircraft ensures continued global dominance and operational effectiveness in increasingly contested environments.