Series of tests are already being conducted under the program.
The U.S. Department of Defense is considering a paradigm shift in conducting air warfare in favor of creating a mass of simple, autonomous unmanned systems controlled by artificial intelligence. Several programs are being prioritized, particularly the Drone Dominance Program (DDP) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
The Drone Dominance Program aims to produce 340,000 inexpensive, disposable strike drones by 2028, capable of overwhelming air defense systems solely by their mass and creating a high density of strikes.
Series of tests are already being conducted under the program. For example, military operators are testing various drones, after which the best are selected for serial orders. As production scales up, the Pentagon intends to significantly reduce the price per unit from about $5000 to $2300.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft focuses on creating larger semi-autonomous drones that will work in conjunction with manned fighters (F-35 and F-47). In June, the U.S. Air Force launched the FQ-42A (General Atomics) and FQ-44A (Anduril Industries) unmanned platforms into production. Their tasks include electronic warfare, reconnaissance, data exchange, and other dangerous missions. Software will control multiple suppliers to avoid dependence on a single one.
The main reason for the paradigm shift in warfare is the combat experience in Ukraine and the Middle East, where inexpensive drones have radically changed the rules of the game.
However, scaling up the production of unmanned systems requires more than just building the appropriate facilities. It is also necessary to establish logistics, train personnel, and work out interactions between different types of drones, including in conditions of interference.
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