WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Navy has begun seeking industry feedback on requirements for a carrier-capable Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) designed to operate alongside 4th- and 5th-generation fighters. Naval Air Systems Command’s Aug. 31 request for information calls for an affordable, weaponized, extended-range, semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft capable of deploying from and recovering aboard Nimitz- and Ford-class aircraft carriers.
Under a proposed three-year schedule, the selected contractor would develop and certify two prototypes for shore-based carrier operations. The Navy’s initial requirements point to a significantly larger CCA than the Air Force’s Increment 1 designs, including the ability to carry up to 10,000 pounds of external payload while remaining no larger than an existing fourth-generation fighter. Key challenges include aircraft storage, flight-deck operations, command and control compatibility, and autonomous deck handling. The Navy is also seeking solutions compatible with its government reference architecture while preserving MQ-25 Stingray operations.
