Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed weapon systems capable of enhancing crewed weapon systems ability to achieve air superiority. The program matures and leverages relevant Science and Technology investments to reduce risk by conducting targeted development, integration, and test activities. Key CCA attributes include cost of platforms, mission integrated autonomy, multi-platform interoperability, and lethality enhancement. Program activities include digital engineering, agile software development, open systems architectures, autonomy architecture, mission autonomy, crewed-uncrewed teaming, as well as the design, build, and test of full weapon systems with supporting elements. Funding provides information technology/test/training infrastructure investments, operational concept exploration, technology studies, multi-domain integration, operational assessments, architecture development, integrated weapons systems development, demonstration of air superiority related technologies, multi-level prototyping, and program management support. Program management support costs include, but are not limited to, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, and facility related expenses. CCA technologies are designed to become available to other DoW systems based on emerging threats, AF priorities, and development capacity. The FY 2026 spend plan amount for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation includes 150.574 million of discretionary and 676.750 million of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of 827.324 million. Funding may be utilized to implement innovation insertion, capability insertion, software increments, spiral upgrades, modular component swaps, and other insertions consistent with Modular Open System Architecture. Funding may be utilized to design, develop, integrate, and test weapon system and/or component level open architectures. Funding may be utilized to fund the concept refinement, design, development, integration, and testing of interdependent technologies and common architectures that underpin weapon system and portfolio-wide mission outcomes. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.