U.S. Air Force Tests YFQ-44A Combat Aircraft with Live Missile Firing

The U.S. Air Force conducted a live-fire test with the YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. This included firing an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile over the Mojave Desert in a digitally simulated environment.

The Air Force plans to field approximately 1,000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft over multiple increments.

What has been confirmed

The U.S. Air Force confirmed the successful live-fire test of the YFQ-44A with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. The test took place in secluded airspace over the Mojave Desert. Anduril Industries developed the YFQ-44A, which is designed to operate alongside crewed fighters like the F-35 and F-15EX. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight on October 31, 2025. Previous tests focused on inert carriage and data link integration. Additionally, the CCA program, which includes the YFQ-44A, mandates human oversight without autonomous weapon employment.

Why it matters

This development in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is crucial for the future of aerial combat, providing the U.S. Air Force with advanced capabilities to operate alongside existing fighter jets. Fielding these aircraft advances military technology, making air operations more flexible and potentially more effective.

FlyMarshall context

Operationally, the integration of systems like the YFQ-44A represents a shift towards greater cooperation between advanced technology and human-operated aircraft in military aviation. This can lead to innovations that might influence future commercial aviation safety systems, emphasizing collaboration between human pilots and automated systems.

What happens next

The U.S. Air Force plans to continue developing the YFQ-44A with the goal of fielding around 1,000 of these aircraft in coming years. This will proceed in various increments, each meeting specific development milestones.