Navy Prepares to Launch Unmanned Wingmen on Aircraft Carriers

The U.S. Navy is developing an unmanned combat aircraft called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), also known as a loyal wingman, to fly alongside crewed fighters on its aircraft carriers.

The CCA will carry sensors and weapons, scout ahead, and take on high-risk missions under the direction of a human pilot or controller.

The Navy has placed four major defense primes - Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, and Northrop Grumman - under contract to develop conceptual designs for the carrier-based CCA, with Lockheed Martin working on a common control architecture.

A separate competition will decide whose autonomy software actually flies the aircraft, involving Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace.