According to Tom's Hardware, the U.S. Air Force recently completed an airborne test in which an F-22 Raptor pilot directed an Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drone during simulated combat. The pilot gave tactical commands, and the drone interpreted them into a series of tasks and flight maneuvers. The test is part of the USAF's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to integrate uncrewed aircraft into fighter squadrons.
A central requirement is that drones operate autonomously after receiving commands, because fighter pilots are already busy flying, managing sensors, assessing threats, and making weapons decisions. The successful command integration is just the first of several hurdles. The program still needs to define the limits of tactical autonomy, ensure safe flight control, and settle weapons authorization. It also must test performance under electronic interference and determine how the drone behaves when communications are interrupted.
Beyond the aircraft itself, the CCA must be folded into logistics and supply chains, including maintenance, weapons handling, deployment procedures, and operations from forward airbases with limited infrastructure. The USAF sees autonomous drones as a force multiplier, letting one pilot command multiple jets at lower cost than using all-crewed aircraft. Other nations, including Sweden and China, are experimenting with single operators controlling multiple drones, but the CCA is distinct in focusing on air power rather than ground-based operations.