CCA Testing Kickstarts the Next Generation of Air Dominance
Unmanned Platforms to Embrace Agile Combat Employment Concept of Operations
In a little over a year since the program’s announcement, two prototypes of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) have started ground testing and are expected to fly in the coming months. The achievement marks an impressive timeline for the aircraft’s development, which is designed to be an unmanned platform that will fly in tandem with, and in support of, manned platforms like the F-22, F-35 and the future B-21 and F-47. While the two prototype CCAs, being produced by Anduril and General Atomics respectively, will eventually be down-selected to one platform, they are expected to be a force multiplier for the warfighter by bringing a futuristic vision of manned-unmanned teaming to air warfare.
“In terms of aircraft development, the CCAs’ progress has been lightning fast,” said Lt Gen (Ret) David “Abu” Nahom, executive director of Elara Nova’s Aeronautics and Mission Systems sector. “Next generation air dominance will take more than just manned platforms, it will require collaborative unmanned platforms equipped with missiles, sensors or even electronic attack capabilities that can overwhelm an enemy’s capacity for decision-making. CCAs will be one part of a next generation family of systems that will ensure we have freedom of the skies in a future conflict.”
The growing prevalence of drones and unmanned platforms in the Russia-Ukraine conflict indicate the nature of warfare is changing rapidly as technologies advance in real time. Adopting and integrating innovative technologies into new and existing platforms will remain a vital component to securing air dominance.
CCAs are seen as a solution to support manned platforms with additional capabilities, while also being able to engage enemy aircraft on their own.
“The technology for manned-unmanned teaming is here,” Gen Nahom, whose 36-year Air Force career culminated with roles such as Commander, Alaskan Command; Alaskan NORAD Region; and Eleventh Air Force. “CCAs will have the ability to collaborate directly with manned platforms and/or other unmanned platforms. This technology is truly game-changing: an airborne network of manned-unmanned will be integral in securing the freedom to maneuver in the skies.”
CCAs Mark the Next Evolution of Unmanned Platforms
The adoption of CCAs will revolutionize how the Air Force flies and operates unmanned platforms. Once fully developed, multiple CCAs may be deployed alongside a single manned platform. This would mark a significant evolution from some of the first unmanned platforms to be deployed by the U.S. military: the MQ-1 and MQ-9.
“We often deployed the MQ-1 and MQ-9 with one pilot to one platform, whereas multiple CCAs could be deployed with a single manned platform controlling them,” Gen Nahom said. “Now, whether that operator is in a manned aircraft or in a ground station remains to be seen, but the technology has advanced to where one operator can control a network of unmanned platforms, the CCA development is part of that evolution.”
CCAs also bring a series of distinct advantages to military operations that a manned platform could not provide on its own.
“Given the nature of the evolving threat, an uncrewed team of vehicles could be very powerful in a battlespace because these uncrewed platforms could be attritable and go places where we wouldn’t want to risk a manned aircraft,” Gen Nahom said. “Manned platforms are usually more expensive for many reasons, including the need to provide life support capability for the pilot, whereas you can save weight and money by not having that requirement on an unmanned platform. It is our hope that CCAs come in at a much lower price point so the risk of loss in a battle is acceptable.”
Further, CCAs are designed to be semi-autonomous and equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities. But it’s still unclear to what extent CCAs will leverage these emerging technologies.
“Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be a part of CCAs,” Gen Nahom. “However, it’s important to note that these emerging technologies will not be taking over the mission, but enhancing the mission by enabling the operator to do many things at once. These unmanned platforms will certainly be controlled by a human, but AI/ML capabilities will allow that operator to do more with these platforms than he or she otherwise would have been able to do in the past.”
Increment 1 to Lay Foundation for Future Increments
The two prototypes are being developed under Increment 1 of the program, which is designed to prioritize speed, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of unmanned platforms. To that end, Air Force officials indicate the service may acquire up to 1,000 CCAs by the end of the decade. But whereas the Increment 1 CCA platform is expected to be cheaper and more attritable, the program will potentially lay the foundation for a more exquisite and expensive platform in follow-on increments.
“The lessons learned from Increment 1 will help undoubtably inform the next increment’s requirements,” Gen Nahom said. “One of the benefits of a CCA network is elevating the number of aircraft, missiles and sensors to complicate an enemy’s decision-making. This is where cost can be a critical factor; if the uncrewed aircraft become too expensive we may be able to get the numbers airborne that will be required in future conflict.
Testing and Training for Agile Combat Employment
The testing and training procedures will also be done according to the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept of operations, which was unveiled in 2022 as a framework for coordinating air operations in a future joint fight.
“The days of mustering all your aircraft at one location are over because that leaves you vulnerable,” Gen Nahom said. “ACE looks at generating combat power from many different locations. That might seem simple, but becomes complicated quickly because it spreads out resources like maintenance, spare parts, personnel and pilots.”
The logistical challenge of ACE will be further compounded by the austerity of many of the locations in the South China Sea, as well as the range between airfields.
“The South China Sea would be ‘The ultimate away game,’” Gen Nahom said. “The great distances between landmasses will be a daunting challenge to overcome in achieving a military objective. It starts with getting an aircraft on a runway or launch platform, fueled, armed and ready to take off in the right position. But then an aircraft has to be synchronized with all the other capabilities assigned to the mission. This has always been a challenge with manned platforms and it’s going to be an even greater challenge CCA teams.”
The Air Force has already begun implementing ACE into large-scale exercises in the Pacific, including one that was held last month: Resolute Force Pacific 2025 (REFORPAC). Once fielded, it will only be a matter of time before CCAs are incorporated into these training exercises.
The potential use cases for CCAs, however, can also go beyond the Air Force.
“There are other military services and even other nations interested in the outcome of Increment 1,” Gen Nahom said. “The Air Force is looking at CCAs to solve the need for next generation air dominance teams that can be deployed in far-away places. But that’s not necessarily the same problem another nation may be trying to solve, which might be using manned-unmanned teaming for homeland defense, maritime surveillance or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. So there’s not only opportunity to apply the technology to the Air Force’s goals and objectives, but there’s opportunities for different platforms and collaborative missions out there, as well.”
This broad range of applications will generate continued opportunities for industry partners to continue developing CCA platforms and their adjacent technology.
Elara Nova Evolving to Meet Industry Demands
In recent months Elara Nova began evolving to meet the growing demand in the aeronautics domain. The consultancy has launched a new business sector to support this type of effort: Aeronautics and Mission Systems.
“There’s been a growing demand for Elara Nova’s expertise beyond the space industry,” Gen Nahom said. “The Aeronautics and Mission Systems sector provides expertise on aeronautics and other mission system applications like command and control networks, base defense and virtual and live training systems. Another emerging mission area is Golden Dome. Elara Nova is well-positioned to assist companies and government partners on how some of these technologies and networks can come together between the air and space domains.”
Elara Nova is a global consultancy and professional services firm focused on helping businesses and government agencies maximize the strategic advantages of the space and aeronautics domain. Learn more at https://elaranova.com/