ND.BUILDS // NOTES
· By Frank Milz
Air Force picks Anduril and General Atomics for CCA production
Anduril's FQ-44A and General Atomics' FQ-42A moved from prototype drone wingmen into production contracts.
On June 17, the U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts to Anduril Industries and General Atomics for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1. Anduril's FQ-44A and General Atomics' FQ-42A shed their prototype "Y" designations and entered manufacturing plans aimed at fielding more than 150 combat-capable CCAs by the end of the decade.
Defense One and Air Force Times noted the decision arrived months ahead of schedule. Northrop's self-funded path was not selected for this increment.
## Why it matters Attritable drone wingmen are no longer a brochure concept. They are a production line problem: cost, rate, autonomy, and weapons integration.
Anduril says its line can scale toward high annual output. The Air Force still wants competition on Increment 2. That tension, scale fast while keeping vendors honest, is the new acquisition doctrine in one paragraph.