Semi-Autonomous Test Flight Signifies ‘Continued Progress’

Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft was flown for the first time on October 31, 2025, as announced by the U.S. Air Force, who also confirmed that a decision about production of the CAA is still expected during FY2026 despite the ongoing government shutdown.

The Air Force sent out a press release announcing the first flight but there were not many details about what the YFQ-44A actually did, how long it flew, or where it ended. The flight originated from Anduril’s facilities at the Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) in Victorville. In its own release, the company noted the flight was “semi-autonomous” – meaning “no operator with a stick and throttle flying the aircraft behind the scenes,” but rather, an operator monitored the aircraft and is able to direct actions “at the push of a button.”

Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink wrote in a post on X that the flight marked “continued progress” in the CCA program, and that it shows “how competition drives innovation and accelerates delivery.”

In a separate post, Meink added, “It also gives us the hard data we need to shape requirements, reduce risk, and ensure the CCA program delivers combat capability on a pace and scale that keeps us ahead of the threat.”

Anduril is competing with General Atomics for “Increment 1” of the CCA program, and the approaches by the two companies differ in that Anduril has emphasized semi-autonomous flight whereas General Atomics started with a ground control station in a “crawl, walk, run” approach to avoid unnecessary risk and start collecting data as quickly as possible.

The Air Force made mention in a press release that both companies’ uncrewed aircraft progressed from concept to first flight in less than two years.

FMI:  www.anduril.com/