Anduril’s collaborative combat aircraft, the Fury YFQ-44A, flies for the 1st time
November 3, 2025
Andruil’s ‘Fury’ YFQ-44 prototype CCA achieved its maiden flight on the last day of October as the contractor races to develop the loyal wingman drone for the Air Force. The test flight follows General Atomics’ YFQ-42A first flight of its drone in August.
Andruil flies its collaborative combat aircraft for the first time
Andruil is celebrating the flight of its Fury YFQ-44A prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), also known as a loyal wingman drone.
Anduril did not provide many details of the test flight, but reporting by The War Zone reveals its flight took place at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California. The aircraft was accompanied by two L-29 Delfin trainer jets.
Andruil had previously teased that the flight would come soon, but had declined to provide a hard timeline. It has also revealed that it has multiple prototype YFG-44s undergoing ground testing.
Flight testing is where the aircraft proves it can achieve the desired speed, manoeuvrability, autonomy, stealth, range, weapons systems integration, and more.
YFQ-44A took flight today. Anduril has launched a new age of airpower with the push of a button.
— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) October 31, 2025
From clean-sheet design to one-click takeoff in 556 days. pic.twitter.com/hUxIZCP8Zz
It is unclear how many CCAs the Air Force will procure, although it has previously indicated a ballpark number of around 1,000 aircraft with perhaps 100-150 in Increment I.
Anduril YFQ-44 focused on speedy development
The aircraft went from clean-sheet design to its first semi-autonomous flight in just 556 days. The United States is in fierce competition with China, which is also unveiling multiple stealthy loyal wingman drones and other autonomous aircraft.
Anduril stated, “In the last year alone, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has teased, introduced, and flown next-generation aircraft at a frantic pace, including at least two high-end crewed aircraft and multiple uncrewed platforms.”
Anduril highlights that the ability to build significant quantities of aircraft quickly is paramount to the CCA programme. It is noted that technologies are evolving faster than ever, with evolutions once measured in years now measured in months, weeks, or even days.
The YFQ-44 is designed for mass production, with its design emphasising simple, mature, and low-risk production technologies. Anduril is building a 5 million-square-foot production facility in Columbus, Ohio, called Arsenal-1. Production of prototype CCAs at the facility is on track for the first half of 2026.
Today, the @usairforce made continued progress in our CCA program with the first flight of the YFQ-44A developed by @anduriltech. This milestone shows how competition drives innovation & accelerates delivery. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/MlxyJ85WvF
— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) October 31, 2025
While the next-generation F-47 fighter is being designed from the ground up to be a ‘system of systems’ commanding loyal wingman drones, the first fighter jet expected to get CCAs is the F-22 Raptor around 2030.
A “paradigm shift” for US air combat power
The Air Force announced Andruil’s Fury as a co-winner alongside General Atomic’s YFQ-42 for its CCA Increment I programme. Demonstrators were flown during the competition. General Atomics was the first to get a representative prototype example of its aircraft flying in August.
Andruil hails the integration of autonomy into fighter aircraft as the next revolutionary change set to be a “paradigm shift” for the way the United States projects combat airpower.
The YFQ-44A is designed to gain air superiority in highly contested environments by focusing on autonomy and affordable mass. The aircraft is not designed to be remotely piloted; it is designed to be semi-autonomous.
Today's successful flight of the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by @GenAtomics_ASI for the @usairforce shows what is possible when innovative acquisition meets motivated industry! (1/2) pic.twitter.com/XpRRj9Zuvv
— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) August 27, 2025
Andruil says it designed the aircraft for the specific mission of enhancing survivability, lethality, and mission effectiveness both by working with manned fighter jets and operating independently.
Featured Image: Anduril
