The U.S. Air Force has selected Anduril Industries and General Atomics to build a new generation of autonomous combat drones designed to fly alongside manned fighter jets and help penetrate heavily defended enemy airspace.
The production contracts mark a major milestone in the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which military leaders consider critical to maintaining U.S. air superiority against advanced threats from China and Russia.
The Air Force awarded engineering, manufacturing, and production contracts to General Atomics for its FQ-42 drone and Anduril for its FQ-44 aircraft.
While officials did not disclose contract values or the number of aircraft being purchased initially, the service plans to field more than 150 combat-capable drones by the end of the decade and eventually about 1,000 aircraft.
"Collaborative Combat Aircraft change how we project power and generate mass in highly contested environments," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said in a statement. "Delivering this capability to our warfighters faster ensures our forces maintain the tactical edge required to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary."
The drones are designed to operate as autonomous wingmen for crewed aircraft, extending range, increasing survivability, and performing dangerous missions that could place human pilots at risk.
Unlike remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drones, the new aircraft will operate with a high degree of autonomy while remaining under limited human command.
According to a Thursday report by The Wall Street Journal, the FQ-42 and FQ-44 differ in design and weapons configuration.
General Atomics' FQ-42 features an internal weapons bay, while Anduril’s FQ-44 carries munitions externally under its wings.
The Air Force's latest budget request includes more than $1 billion for the drones in fiscal year 2027 and more than $9.5 billion over the next five years.
Officials have previously indicated they hope the drones will cost roughly one-third as much as a manned fighter jet. An F-35 fighter currently costs about $82.5 million.
The program arrives as drones increasingly reshape modern warfare.
Small, inexpensive unmanned aircraft have played a major role in conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, Iran, and across the Middle East, demonstrating the growing importance of unmanned systems on the battlefield.
The Air Force moved the program into full-scale production months ahead of schedule, signaling confidence that both aircraft meet operational requirements.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the accelerated timeline will help the military "stay ahead of the pacing challenge."
In addition to the aircraft contracts, the Air Force awarded autonomy software contracts to six companies: Anduril, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Shield AI.
The service is pursuing a "software sold separately" strategy that allows mission-autonomy software to be continuously upgraded and integrated across multiple aircraft platforms.
Military officials say the combination of autonomous aircraft and advanced software will create a flexible, scalable force capable of operating in highly contested environments expected in future conflicts.
Reuters contributed to this report.