The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command issued a request for information on 31 August 2026 for the first increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, seeking two fully functional prototype uncrewed combat aircraft capable of operating from aircraft carriers.
The prototypes must be compatible with both Gerald R. Ford‑class and Nimitz‑class carriers, including catapult launch and arrested recovery, carry up to four external stores of 2,500 lb each for a maximum 10,000 lb payload, and meet an affordability ceiling of $30 million per airframe.
They will employ the existing MD‑5 Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System, originally developed for the MQ‑25 Stingray, and are envisioned to operate alongside F/A‑18E/F Super Hornets, F‑35C Lightning IIs and the future F/A‑XX sixth‑generation fighter.
