DENVER, Feb. 24, 2026 : Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A prototype, developed under the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, is formally in the weapons integration testing phase after being observed carrying an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) during a recent flight test.
The transition to weapons integration was confirmed during a keynote address at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium on Feb. 23, 2026, when Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach presented the first official image of the unmanned aircraft, internally designated “Fury,” with the missile mounted externally on a hardpoint.
Progression of the YFQ-44A Program
The YFQ-44A first achieved powered flight on Oct. 31, 2025. Since that maiden flight, the program has moved from early semi-autonomous flight testing into evaluations involving external payloads. The recent sighting with an inert AIM-120 indicates the program’s advancement into a new developmental stage focused on weapon system integration.
The AIM-120 carried during the test was an inert training version without an active warhead or propulsion. According to Air Force officials, the current phase utilizes inert munitions exclusively to assess the aerodynamic effects of a loaded configuration, verify structural integrity with external stores, and validate systems interfaces before any live-fire or separation testing is conducted.
Purpose of Captive Carry Evaluations
Captive carry testing with inert munitions is a standard developmental step. For the YFQ-44A, these evaluations are critical because the design carries weapons externally rather than in an internal bay. Engineers and test personnel use these flights to monitor aerodynamic behavior, structural loads, vibration characteristics, and overall airworthiness in a controlled environment. The data gathered will inform future testing, including live separation and firing events planned later in the year.
Operational Role and Program Objectives
The YFQ-44A is built around the “loyal wingman” concept, intended to operate alongside manned aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, and F-15EX. As part of the Air Force’s CCA Increment 1 effort, the platform is being developed to expand the sensor network, increase the quantity of available munitions in a contested battlespace, and enhance overall mission effectiveness through semi-autonomous operations linked with crewed fighters.
The broader objective of the CCA program is to provide “affordable mass” — a term used by Air Force planners to describe the ability to deploy larger numbers of lower-cost uncrewed aircraft that can augment current combat air forces with additional sensors, communications nodes, and weapons.
Comparative Progress and Next Steps
The YFQ-44A is one of two prototype designs in Increment 1. The competing General Atomics YFQ-42A is also progressing through its own testing schedule. Both aircraft are focused on integrating air-to-air weapons, with the AIM-120 AMRAAM selected as the primary missile for initial integration.
Program officials expect weapons integration and captive carry testing to continue throughout 2026. Following successful evaluations with inert munitions, live-fire testing and separation trials are planned for later phases. A production decision for the Increment 1 CCA is anticipated in fiscal year 2026.
Testing at California Location
Images published by the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 23, 2026, show the YFQ-44A conducting captive carry testing at a California flight test location. The test flights form part of the structured evaluation process, aimed at validating performance and safety with externally mounted munitions before advancing to more complex weapons trials.
All information in this article is drawn from U.S. Air Force statements and imagery released on Feb. 23-24, 2026, along with official program details regarding the CCA and YFQ-44A test activities.
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