Anduril YFQ-44A unmanned fighter — loyal wingman drone from Anduril company created within Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program — during recent testing for first time fired AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile.
Unmanned system took off from Edwards Air Force Base, using Lattice software received necessary data and conducted launch against virtual target beyond drone's line of sight. Air And Space Forces Magazine reported testing details.
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As General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, emphasized, these tests became important step in CCA drone development and brought them closer to finally providing such capabilities to military.
Recall YFQ-44A is one of two CCA drones whose serial versions were ordered in June for forming mixed unmanned fighter fleet of American military within program first stage implementation.
Other program participant — General Atomics with YFQ-42A drone — plans to conduct combat launches by year end. Also company noted missile launch will be conducted from drone internal bay, while Anduril's YFQ-44A, as visible on video, launched missiles located on underwing pylons of unmanned fighter.
Although YFQ-44A became first American CCA program drone to launch air-to-air missile, overall this is not first unmanned fighter that can boast such achievement.
Specifically, last year Australian Boeing division drone MQ-28 Ghost Bat during testing destroyed aerial target with same AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile.
Also worth mentioning Turkish unmanned fighter Kizilelma, which Turks generally call first of its kind, in November last year within simulation tests engaged target in form of F-16 using Turkish Gökdoğan air-to-air missile.
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