General Atomics has introduced a full-scale model of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), an autonomous fighter designed to support and augment human-piloted aircraft.
The unveiling, which took place at the Air Force Association’s (AFA) Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Washington, DC represents a significant shift in the way military aircraft are designed and deployed. Based on the XQ-67A prototype, this subsonic, autonomous fighter is being developed under the US Air Force’s CCA program. Its primary purpose is to assist fighter pilots by taking on roles traditionally fulfilled by manned aircraft, such as serving as sensor or weapon platforms. Rather than the pilot controlling every aspect of flight and combat, the CCA allows the human operator to act more like a squadron commander, with multiple autonomous aircraft operating in tandem to complete missions.
These robotic wingmen, as they are often referred to, would fly ahead of the main piloted aircraft, acting both as decoys and offensive or defensive assets. They would also be capable of communicating among themselves to determine the best course of action, including engaging with hostile forces and navigating complex airspace autonomously.
This development is not solely driven by technological advancements but also by the escalating cost of producing modern fighter planes. The price of building a fighter jet has skyrocketed since World War II. Some experts predict that by the 2050s, the cost could be so high that the US military might only be able to afford a single fighter plane. To make matters worse, production lines for major Western defense aircraft manufacturers are already operating at capacity, limiting the ability to scale up production even as geopolitical tensions drive an arms race.
Additionally, the economic burden extends beyond the planes themselves. Recruiting, training, and retaining fighter pilots is a costly and time-consuming endeavor, adding to the already enormous expenses faced by air forces worldwide. By integrating autonomous aircraft like the CCA, militaries can alleviate some of these financial pressures while reducing risks to human life, thereby serving as a force multiplier.
However, implementing these changes is not without its challenges. The technology required to make autonomous warplanes combat-ready is still in development. Even more pressing are the ethical concerns surrounding the use of robots in warfare. Human oversight remains a key issue, as the idea of letting autonomous aircraft engage in deadly combat without strict human control is fraught with danger.
Speaking at the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Aerospace Summit in September 2024, Frank Kendall, Secretary of the US Air Force, emphasized the importance of maintaining human oversight, particularly through direct communication with autonomous aircraft.
“One of the things you have to have if you’re going to use CCAs and have them be armed and lethal is that they have to be under tight control,” Kendall said. He further highlighted the need for “line-of-sight communications,” meaning that there must be a direct link between a human operator and the autonomous craft to ensure close supervision during combat.
“We’re not going to have aircraft going out and doing engagements uncontrolled. So the default, if they lose communications, would be for them to return to base,” Kendall said. He emphasized that without such safeguards, the risks would outweigh the benefits, as an uncontrolled aircraft could be taken out of the fight or, worse, make potentially catastrophic decisions autonomously.