American defense technologies company Anduril successfully completed the first flight test of its YFQ-44A, a jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype developed for the US Air Force.

Unmanned fighter jet test completed

With this test, the company took a significant step in the Pentagon’s strategy to prepare for future conflicts with autonomous systems. This cockpit-less platform, which Anduril calls a “loyal wingman” and resembles a small-scale fighter jet, conducted its test flight at a proving ground in California.

The flight was reportedly conducted in semi-autonomous mode. Anduril engineering manager Jason Levin explained that the aircraft can manage flight control and throttle settings without any human intervention and can also land with a single command when necessary. The company announced that it designed the platform from scratch and brought it to flight test in just 556 days, or less than two years.

This achievement is a direct result of the competitive process in the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which has been meticulously underway since last year.

In April 2024, Anduril signed a contract with General Atomics to develop “loyal wingman” prototypes. General Atomics had previously officially announced that it was flying its own CCA platform, the YFQ-42A, in semi-autonomous mode.

The CCA program serves the goal of increasing the range and effectiveness of the US combat force. Under this program, unmanned systems will operate alongside piloted combat aircraft. Official statements indicate that the US will establish a fleet of at least 1,000 semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft, powered by artificial intelligence.

This autonomous fleet will operate in conjunction with existing fighter jets such as the F-22 and F-35, as well as future piloted fighter jets such as the sixth-generation F-47. The first successful flight of the YFQ-44A lays the foundation for this massive fleet of autonomous combat drones.