The US Air force now desires to create software in drone combat similar to how one updates apps in a cell phone. During a recent test, Anduril Industries showed the YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft that the drone is capable of changing between two divergent mission autonomy systems whilst in flight. This will imply that the mission brain of the aircraft is changeable without landing. This success is said to be a significant advance of modular and plug-and-play autonomy in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program of the Air Force.
In this test, the plane was first tested through the required tests with one software stack before it was later tested using a different system in-flight. Timothy Helfrich revealed this fact in a panel discussion at the Warfare Symposium of Air and Space Forces Association. They claim that the mission autonomy system at Shield AI had been performed on the first flight, after which it was switched to the second system without landing.
Two Different Software, Same Flight
The second system later became the own “Lattice for Mission Autonomy” software of Anduril. The company stated that the aircraft passed both systems through the same test points as per a planned test. Following the landing, the plane landed in the specified point, and the Hivemind mission autonomy program of Shield AI was switched on in the first instance. Upon the planned tests, the aircraft smoothly transitioned to the Lattice software and re-ran the same tests and safely landed.
All this demonstrated that various mission software can be hosted without modifying the basic flight systems of the aircraft. This is essential to quick upgrades and inclusion of new features in future.
Mission Autonomy vs. Flight Autonomy
The difference between mission autonomy and flight autonomy is apparent. Mission autonomy refers to a software that performs the duties of complex combat operations upon being provided with high-level commands by a human pilot. It may be considered as a pilot in the seat. Matthew Jensen states that the system presupposes that it carries out set missions.
On the other hand, flight autonomy is used to guarantee the basic flight, safety and airworthiness of the aircraft. The Air Force has a separation of these two layers based on the Autonomy-Government Reference Architecture (GRA). This design enables various firms to coordinate their mission computer packages with various airplanes without affecting the safety levels.
Moving Toward 2026
Other firms are equally improving in the CCA program. Some recent news General Atomics said that its YFQ-42A aircraft flew using Collins Aerospace Sidekick software. The mid-air software change experiment by Anduril is however deemed as progress. This distinctly points out that the Air Force regards mission autonomy to be an app layer, which can be updated or re-emplaced after a period of time.
Air Force intends to decide on production of aircrafts and mission autonomy software on the first phase (Increment 1) of CCA in 2026. This ruling will show the pace with which autonomous wingman drones can be deployed in front of manned fighter aircraft. This technology may transform the ways of aerial warfare in the next few years.
FAQs
1. What did the U.S. Air Force recently test?
The Air Force tested a drone’s ability to switch between two different mission autonomy software systems during a single flight without landing.
2. Which company demonstrated the midair software switch?
Anduril Industries demonstrated the capability using its YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
3. What is mission autonomy software?
Mission autonomy software controls how a combat drone carries out complex tasks after receiving high-level instructions from a human pilot.
4. How is mission autonomy different from flight autonomy?
Mission autonomy handles combat tasks, while flight autonomy manages basic aircraft operations, safety, and airworthiness.
5. When will the Air Force make a production decision for the CCA program?
The Air Force plans to make a production decision for Increment 1 of the CCA program in 2026.
