The United States Air Force has officially transitioned into the early manufacturing phase for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, signaling a shift from prototype development to active production. Both primary contractors, Anduril and General Atomics, have confirmed that production of their respective drone systems is now underway, following engineering and manufacturing contract awards issued by the Air Force in June.

Anduril recently marked a significant industrial milestone with the completion of its first Fury aircraft at its Arsenal-1 production facility in Ohio. According to AVweb, the facility is designed to support high-volume output, with capacity planned for up to 150 Fury units annually. Concurrently, General Atomics has initiated manufacturing for its FQ-42A variant. The company stated that it had been preparing for this volume of production in anticipation of the military order, which the Air Force secured four months ahead of its original schedule.

While production is ramping up, the platforms remain in the development phase rather than being fielded as operational assets. Military units are currently utilizing production-representative test models, specifically the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, to refine maintenance protocols, weapons integration, and operational procedures at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The Air Force’s stated goal is to acquire a fleet exceeding 150 combat-capable CCAs by the end of the decade, providing the military with a scalable, autonomous force multiplier.