The Netherlands has partnered with the United States Air Force on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, formalizing plans to acquire prototype drones as part of the initiative’s development phase.
Following a letter of intent signed in October 2025, the partnership will emphasize the joint development of open-architecture, platform-independent autonomous systems aimed at enhancing interoperability and data exchange in joint operations.
As the first European nation involved in the CCA effort, the Netherlands will collaborate closely with the USAF’s Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) at Nellis Air Force Base, which plays a key role in testing operational concepts and advancing autonomous capabilities through hands-on experimentation.
The CCA program seeks to field autonomous or semi-autonomous drones capable of operating alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor. These systems are designed to act as “loyal wingmen,” supporting missions including strike operations, intelligence gathering, and electronic warfare.
Initial prototypes—General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A—are currently in flight testing and early-stage operational evaluation after being selected in 2024. The first operational deployments are anticipated by the end of the decade.
