Anduril’s YFQ-44A Makes First Flight, Advancing USAF Drone-Wingman Competition
Anduril Industries has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its YFQ-44A jet-powered uncrewed aircraft on October 31, 2025, in Victorville, California. The aircraft is one of two contenders in the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to integrate autonomous drones as partners, or "wingmen," for crewed fighter jets.
During the test, the YFQ-44A autonomously executed its mission plan, handled flight control and throttle management without human commands, and completed a safe landing under operator supervision. The event marks a significant technological and operational milestone in the evolution of AI-driven aerial systems for defense.
“This aircraft is ushering in this new paradigm with incredible technical precision,” said Jason Levin, Anduril’s Senior Vice President for Air Dominance and Strike. “It executes a mission plan on its own, manages flight control and throttle adjustment independent of human command, and returns to land at the push of a button.”
The successful flight makes Anduril the second participant in the CCA Increment 1 competition to enter the flight-test phase, following General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, whose YFQ-42A prototype first flew in August 2025 at Gray Butte, California.
Author’s Summary
The YFQ-44A’s successful first flight brings Anduril closer to advancing autonomous air-combat capabilities in the US Air Force’s next-generation drone-wingman program.