Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Mission — Collaborative Combat Aircraft source

Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed weapon systems capable of enhancing crewed weapon systems ability to achieve air superiority. The program matures and leverages relevant Science and Technology investments to reduce risk by conducting targeted development, integration, and test activities. Key CCA attributes include cost of platforms, mission integrated autonomy, multi-platform interoperability, and lethality enhancement. Program activities include digital engineering, agile software development, open systems architectures, autonomy architecture, mission autonomy, crewed-uncrewed teaming, as well as the design, build, and test of full weapon systems with supporting elements. Funding provides information technology/test/training infrastructure investments, operational concept exploration, technology studies, multi-domain integration, operational assessments, architecture development, integrated weapons systems development, demonstration of air superiority related technologies, multi-level prototyping, and program management support. Program management support costs include, but are not limited to, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, and facility related expenses. CCA technologies are designed to become available to other Department of Defense systems based on emerging threats, Air Force priorities, and development capacity. The FY 2026 request for CCA includes 111,365 thousands of discretionary and 678,000 thousands of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of 789,365 thousands. The mandatory funds address Air Superiority in FY 2026. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20007 of the Reconciliation Exhibit. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2025 9.966 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in program element 0207110F, and in FY 2026 13.537 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Mission — Collaborative Combat Aircraft source

Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed weapon systems capable of enhancing crewed weapon systems ability to achieve air superiority. The program matures and leverages relevant Science and Technology investments to reduce risk by conducting targeted development, integration, and test activities. Key CCA attributes include cost of platforms, mission integrated autonomy, multi-platform interoperability, and lethality enhancement. Program activities include digital engineering, agile software development, open systems architectures, autonomy architecture, mission autonomy, crewed-uncrewed teaming, as well as the design, build, and test of full weapon systems with supporting elements. Funding provides information technology/test/training infrastructure investments, operational concept exploration, technology studies, multi-domain integration, operational assessments, architecture development, integrated weapons systems development, demonstration of air superiority related technologies, multi-level prototyping, and program management support. Program management support costs include, but are not limited to, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, and facility related expenses. CCA technologies are designed to become available to other DoD systems based on emerging threats, AF priorities, and development capacity. The FY 2026 request for CCA includes 111.365 million of discretionary and 678.000 million of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of 789.365 million. The mandatory funds address Air Superiority in FY 2026. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20007 of the Reconciliation Exhibit. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2025 9.96 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in program element 0207110F, and in FY 2026 13.537 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)