Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury prototype built for the CCA Increment 1 programme of the US Air Force has started its flight tests with the maiden flight. The firm stated that YFQ-44A flew semi-autonomously in its maiden flight.
YFQ-44A Fury features an airframe tailored for high-G manoeuvres and capable of reaching speeds near Mach 0.95. Its forward bay supports modular payloads such as radar, infrared search and track (IRST), or electronic warfare equipment. The CCA can carry two AIM-120 AMRAAM BVRAAMs on external hardpoints.
The UCAV alongside GA-ASI’s YFQ-42, based on the XQ-67 demonstrator, forms the first phase of the CCA programme, which will introduce compact CCAs with air-to-air capabilities to support manned fighters. The later phases of CCA programme are expected to introduce higher performance platforms with low observability refinements with Lochkeed Martin's Vectis design giving hints on the matter.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
