The United States Air Force is advancing its vision of integrating autonomous “loyal wingman” systems alongside manned fighter aircraft through the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. In a statement released in December, the service confirmed that Northrop Grumman’s autonomous drone, known as Talon, is considered one of the leading candidates for inclusion in the program. As part of this process, the Air Force officially assigned the Talon the designation YFQ-48A, making it the third platform to receive a formal CCA designation.

Previously, the Air Force had designated CCA prototypes developed by Anduril Industries and General Atomics as YFQ-44A and YFQ-42A, respectively. The addition of the Talon underscores the Air Force’s “continuous competition” acquisition strategy, which allows multiple defense contractors to compete at various stages of the program in order to accelerate innovation and control costs.

The CCA concept is designed to extend the operational reach of manned aircraft such as the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the Air Force’s future next-generation fighter, the F-47. These semi-autonomous drones are expected to operate with minimal pilot input, performing missions that include strike operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, communications jamming, and acting as decoys to absorb enemy fire. Affordability is a central requirement, enabling the Air Force to accept potential losses in combat without severe budgetary impact.

Northrop Grumman unveiled Project Talon in December, highlighting the platform’s modular manufacturing approach and mission flexibility. According to the company, Talon was designed, built, and prepared for flight in less than two years. Development was accelerated through Northrop Grumman’s autonomous testbed ecosystem known as Beacon, which allowed avionics and software to be tested in realistic operational environments.

Company officials noted that Talon represents a significant evolution from an earlier CCA concept proposed by Northrop. The current design is approximately 1,000 pounds lighter, uses roughly half the number of parts, and can be produced around 30% faster. Beyond the US market, Northrop Grumman is also positioning Talon for international customers, stating that the platform would enable the US and allied nations to project power effectively in dynamic and contested threat environments.