Air Force's CCA Thrust Targets Spark Disagreement with Industry

Honeywell Aerospace is adjusting to changing requirements for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, according to Matt Milas, Honeywell's president of defense and space. The Air Force is seeking a lower thrust range than some airframers are looking for, which has caused a disconnect in planning.

Milas mentioned that the Air Force's push through the SOSSEC Inc. consortium for a medium thrust engine targets about 6,000-lb. of thrust, which is less than what some airframers are interested in. There is interest from airframers to get more thrust, around 6-8,000 lb., but the Air Force is focused on fuel consumption.

Milas believes that international CCA programs are targeting a higher range of thrust for meaningful payloads and ranges. He noted that developing a new system will take time, and airframers are focused on what is reliable and available now to meet an aggressive schedule.