General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California
The company said a mishap occurred “following takeoff” today.
Unmanned in the air and at sea at World Defense Show 2026
Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou gets up close and personal with some American unmanned platforms in Saudi Arabia.
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America must adopt a Sixth Domain of warfare doctrine
The Sixth Domain is not defined by geography. It’s a new kind of conflict in which autonomy and networked systems allow thousand-dollar consumer electronics to destroy multi-million-dollar conventional weapons systems.
Air Force flight tests drone wingman carrying (inert) weapons, competitors reveal new names
Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone wingman under development for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has begun testing flights with a missile underwing, according to an Air Force press release.
LongShot program eyes new target for early flight tests
The first flight test for the X-68A was originally set to begin in December of 2023, Breaking Defense previously reported.
DIU, Navy seek long-range drones for maritime strikes
A new solicitation from the Defense Innovation Unit asks for unmanned systems capable of carrying 1,000-pound-class munitions that can fly in a 600-nautical-mile radius.
The drone wingman race kicks into high(er) gear: 2026 preview
Sometime in 2026, the Air Force will make a decision about what designs to produce for the first round of its drone wingmen program. The service is also expected to home in on what it wants next.
Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition
Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.
CCA Round 2: Air Force picks 9 vendors for next batch of drone wingmen
The designs selected for the next group of Collaborative Combat Aircraft represent a “broad spectrum” of concepts, which will be narrowed down at a later date for prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense.
Army launches ‘challenge’ to find division-level Gray Eagle replacement
Service leaders are looking to find industry solutions for short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VOTL) drones, ones that don’t require a runway, in the Group 4 or above category.
General Atomics executive breaks down CCA demand, MQ-9 plans and standoff strategy
Dive into how General Atomics Aeronautical Systems plans to protect MQ-9s, adapt for peer threats and evolve its unmanned systems portfolio over the next five years.
In a first, F-22 pilot controls wingman drone from cockpit, General Atomics says
“We already know the F-22 will play a critical role in crewed-uncrewed teaming operations, and General Atomics is in a unique position to get this started now,” company spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense.
Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
General Atomics launches Gambit 6 drone wingman for air-to-ground operations
International customers will be able to acquire Gambit 6 from 2027, ahead of European “missionized versions” eligible for delivery in 2029, according to General Atomics.
Anduril drone wingman prototype makes first flight, Air Force says
The tech startup’s YFQ-44A is the second of two drone prototypes to take flight under the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Trump says he’ll sign order to direct Navy to use steam for aircraft carrier catapults
It’s not the first time Trump has fixated on the technology.
Netherlands joins US for drone wingmen development
The agreement unlocks "total access" for the Netherlands into the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, said Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman.