Collaborative combat aircraft
Unmanned wingman combat aircraft / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) is a US program for unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that is considered broadly equivalent to a loyal wingman. CCAs are intended to operate in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider.[1] Unlike the conventional UCAVs, the CCA incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), denoted an "autonomy package", increasing its survivability on the battlefield. It is still expected to cost much less than a manned aircraft with similar capabilities.[2] The US Air Force plans to spend more than $6 billion on its CCA programs from 2023 to 2028.[3][4] The success of the CCA program may lessen the need for additional manned squadrons.[5][6]