What missile was used, and what did it hit?

An AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) was launched, successfully striking a digital virtual target during the live-fire test.

What is the CCA loyal wingman program?

The CCA program develops autonomous drones designed to fly alongside crewed fighters like the F-35 and F-22, handling reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike missions to reduce risk to human pilots.

US Air Force Fires Missile from 'Loyal Wingman' Drone…

Q: What drone fired the missile in this US Air Force test?

The missile was fired by the YFQ-44A, an advanced uncrewed combat aircraft developed by Anduril Industries for the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

US Air Force Fires Missile from 'Loyal Wingman' Drone for the First Time

The US Air Force, in partnership with Anduril Industries, has successfully fired an AIM-120 air-to-air missile from the YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) loyal wingman drone, striking a digital virtual target. The milestone marks the first live-fire weapons test conducted under the Air Force's CCA program.

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Highlights

The US Air Force successfully fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM from the Anduril YFQ-44A CCA drone, marking the program's first-ever live-fire weapons test.

The YFQ-44A is an uncrewed combat aircraft built by Anduril Industries specifically for the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

The AIM-120 missile struck a digital virtual target, validating the drone's ability to integrate and deploy real NATO-standard air-to-air weapons.

The CCA program aims to deploy loyal wingman drones alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35 and F-22 for manned-unmanned teaming in complex combat environments.

The milestone signals a new phase in US uncrewed combat aviation, moving the loyal wingman concept from development toward operational weapons capability.

US Air Force Fires Missile from 'Loyal Wingman' Drone for the First Time

The US Air Force has reached a significant milestone, successfully firing a missile from a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) loyal wingman drone for the first time. The test was conducted in partnership with Anduril Industries, with the YFQ-44A uncrewed aircraft launching an AIM-120 air-to-air missile that successfully engaged a digital virtual target.

A Historic First Live-Fire Test

This marks the first live-fire weapons validation completed under the Air Force's CCA loyal wingman program, carrying major strategic and technical significance. The YFQ-44A is an advanced uncrewed combat aircraft developed by Anduril Industries for the US Air Force. The successful AIM-120 launch demonstrates the drone's capability to integrate and operate real-world combat weapons systems.

Background: The CCA Loyal Wingman Program

The US Air Force's CCA program is focused on developing autonomous uncrewed aircraft capable of operating alongside crewed fighter jets. These 'loyal wingman' drones are designed to fly in concert with front-line platforms such as the F-35 and F-22 in complex threat environments, taking on roles ranging from reconnaissance and electronic warfare to strike missions — all while reducing risk to human pilots.

Technical Significance

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a NATO-standard active radar-guided missile in service with air forces across multiple nations. Its successful integration onto the YFQ-44A platform and completion of a live-fire test marks a new chapter in US uncrewed combat capability, pointing toward a future 'manned-unmanned teaming' model of aerial warfare.

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