10-12-2025, 08:58 PM
This post was last modified: 10-12-2025, 09:15 PM by Signal Witch.
USAF Considering Standalone CCA Squadrons
![[Image: CCA-fighter-YFQ-44A-YFQ-42A.webp]](https://denyignorance.com/uploader/images/CCA-fighter-YFQ-44A-YFQ-42A.webp)
Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, nominee for Chief of Staff of the Air Force, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the service is looking at forming dedicated squadrons composed entirely of Collaborative Combat Aircraft instead of embedding them in existing fighter units.
The idea is to let CCA units operate independently but team with manned aircraft when needed. Wilsbach said this approach would open new basing options and possibly make use of underutilized installations. He also noted that Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve components are being considered as potential hosts. The Air Force has already stood up an Experimental Operations Unit to refine tactics and logistics for CCA operations.
The General Atomics YFQ-42A has completed its first flight, and the Anduril YFQ-44A is expected to fly by year’s end. Increment 1 production decisions are approaching, with Increment 2 prototype contracts expected in fiscal 2026.
The Marine Corps is taking a different path, planning to integrate its runway-based Kratos XQ-58 variant directly into F-35B squadrons instead of creating separate drone units.
![[Image: kratos.jpg]](https://denyignorance.com/uploader/images/kratos.jpg)
My Thoughts
This would give the Air Force real tactical flexibility. CCAs could launch faster than piloted squadrons, get aloft ahead of the manned jets, and be first on station to probe defenses or literally kick the door down. They can take the initial heat and accept losses that would be unacceptable for crewed aircraft, while combined manned and CCA formations follow in to exploit the openings.
The tricky part remains integration. Separate drone squadrons add layers of coordination, extra logistics, and a heavy dependence on data links that must keep working under pressure. If those links fail or command pathways are unclear, manned and unmanned forces can end up out of sync when it matters most.
Still, I like the strategy. Treating CCAs as firstclass assets, fielded at scale and used intentionally, is exactly what it will take to make manned/unmanned teaming more than a gimmick.
And as long as we keep the software updates fresh maybe Skynet won't take over.
Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, nominee for Chief of Staff of the Air Force, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the service is looking at forming dedicated squadrons composed entirely of Collaborative Combat Aircraft instead of embedding them in existing fighter units.
The idea is to let CCA units operate independently but team with manned aircraft when needed. Wilsbach said this approach would open new basing options and possibly make use of underutilized installations. He also noted that Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve components are being considered as potential hosts. The Air Force has already stood up an Experimental Operations Unit to refine tactics and logistics for CCA operations.
The General Atomics YFQ-42A has completed its first flight, and the Anduril YFQ-44A is expected to fly by year’s end. Increment 1 production decisions are approaching, with Increment 2 prototype contracts expected in fiscal 2026.
The Marine Corps is taking a different path, planning to integrate its runway-based Kratos XQ-58 variant directly into F-35B squadrons instead of creating separate drone units.
My Thoughts
This would give the Air Force real tactical flexibility. CCAs could launch faster than piloted squadrons, get aloft ahead of the manned jets, and be first on station to probe defenses or literally kick the door down. They can take the initial heat and accept losses that would be unacceptable for crewed aircraft, while combined manned and CCA formations follow in to exploit the openings.
The tricky part remains integration. Separate drone squadrons add layers of coordination, extra logistics, and a heavy dependence on data links that must keep working under pressure. If those links fail or command pathways are unclear, manned and unmanned forces can end up out of sync when it matters most.
Still, I like the strategy. Treating CCAs as firstclass assets, fielded at scale and used intentionally, is exactly what it will take to make manned/unmanned teaming more than a gimmick.
And as long as we keep the software updates fresh maybe Skynet won't take over.
I am the Signal Witch - Illusorix, casting phantoms, ghostscripts, falselight, and artifacts into the spectral bloom...
