미공군, GA와 안두릴을 CCA 양산 업체로 선정

[위종민]

CCA 양산업체로 GA(YFQ-42A)와 안두릴(YFQ-44A)를 모두 선정했네요. 2020년대 말까지 150대를 양산할 예정입니다. 각 회사가 몇 대의 CCA를 양산할지는 미정이거나 공개되지 않았고, 두 기체의 명칭도 Y를 빼고 FQ-42A와 FQ-44A로 명명됐네요. 

무인 전투기 YFQ-42A(아래)와 YFQ-44A의 개념도가 삽화로 묘사되어 있다. (삽화 제공: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. 및 Anduril Industries)

미 공군, CCA 양산 업체로 General Atomics와 Anduril 모두 선정

2026년 6월 17일 | Stephen Losey

미 공군은 각각 YFQ-42A와 YFQ-44A 무인기를 기반으로 한 반자율형 협업전투항공기(Collaborative Combat Aircraft, CCA) 첫 번째 전력을 구축하기 위해 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems와 Anduril Industries를 모두 선정했다.

미 공군은 6월 17일, 프로그램의 첫 번째 단계(Increment 1)를 위해 10년 말까지 최소 150대 이상의 CCA를 공동 생산하는 것을 목표로, 두 회사에 엔지니어링·제조 개발(EMD) 및 생산 계약을 체결했다고 발표했다.

미 공군은 또한 CCA의 비행을 담당할 핵심 임무 자율성 소프트웨어를 공급하기 위해 Anduril, Shield AI, Collins Aerospace 등 3개 업체를 경쟁을 통해 선정해 생산 옵션을 부여했다고 발표했다. 이들 업체는 Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics를 포함한 잠재 공급업체 풀에서 선정됐다.

"우리는 CCA가 공군력의 다음 진화를 대표한다고 보고 있습니다." 미 공군 전투기 및 첨단 항공기 포트폴리오 획득 책임자인 Timothy Helfrich 대령은 기자들과의 전화회의에서 이렇게 말했다. "이는 인간과 기계의 협업을 항공 분야에 처음으로 적용하고 이를 실제 작전으로 구현하는 첫 사례입니다. 유인 전투기와 함께 운용하면 작전 반경을 확대하고 생존성을 높이며, 고도의 경쟁 환경에서 전투에 필요한 충분한 전력을 확보할 수 있습니다."

미 공군은 장기적으로 약 1,000대 규모의 다양한 유형과 복잡성을 갖춘 CCA 전력을 확보해 F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, 6세대 F-47, F-22A Raptor와 같은 유인 전투기 및 항공기를 보완하기를 원하고 있다. CCA는 스스로 비행하면서 타격, 정찰, 전자전 또는 전파방해 임무를 수행하도록 설계되며, 함께 비행하는 유인 항공기의 조종사로부터는 최소한의 지시만 받도록 계획되어 있다. 미 공군은 첫 번째 단계의 CCA가 최소 700해리의 전투행동반경을 갖추기를 원하고 있다.

2024년 4월 미 공군은 General Atomics와 Anduril에 각각 제안한 CCA를 계속 설계, 제작, 시험하기 위한 계약을 체결했다. General Atomics는 YFQ-42A를, Anduril은 YFQ-44A를 개발했으며, 2025년 동안 두 기종 모두 지상시험을 거쳐 비행시험 단계로 진입했다.

Helfrich는 이번에 체결된 새로운 계약은 2024년에 체결된 기존 계약의 연장이 아니라고 말했다. 미 공군은 당초 CCA 입찰에 참여했던 Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing을 포함한 5개 업체 모두를 대상으로 다시 입찰을 실시했으며, 결국 1차 경쟁에서 선정됐던 업체들과 계속 진행하기로 결정했다.

이제 생산 계약이 체결됨에 따라 시험 중인 이 두 CCA는 시제기를 의미하는 'Y' 접두어를 떼고 FQ-42A와 FQ-44A로 명명된다. Helfrich는 양산형 CCA가 미 공군의 운용 요구를 충족하도록 발전하고 개선되었지만, 기본적인 설계는 여전히 동일하다고 말했다.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems의 사장 David Alexander는 성명을 통해 "오늘은 우리 회사와 국가 모두에게 매우 뜻깊은 날입니다"라고 밝혔다. "FQ-42A의 양산 단계 진입은 General Atomics와 미 공군 간의 긴밀한 협력과 수년에 걸친 투자 노력의 결과입니다. 우리는 이번 주문을 위해 준비해 왔으며, 생산은 이미 본격적으로 진행 중입니다."

Anduril의 자율 공중전력 부문 부사장 Mark Shushnar는 성명을 통해 "우리는 지난 2년 동안 항공기 개발과 병행해 생산 시스템을 지속적으로 개선하고 시험하며 반복적으로 발전시켜 왔습니다"라고 말했다. "이미 시제기를 통해 완전한 양산 공정과 생산 설비를 적용했으며, 시제 개발 단계에서 문제를 발견하고 해결함으로써 양산 전환 과정을 더욱 원활하게 만들었습니다."

Helfrich는 이번 CCA 계약의 금액은 기밀로 분류되어 공개할 수 없지만, 미 공군은 F-35 가격의 3분의 1 수준, 즉 기체당 약 3,000만 달러 미만이라는 기존 목표를 충족하거나 이를 상회하고 있다고 말했다.

Helfrich는 이번 계약이 첫 번째부터 세 번째 생산 로트까지를 포함하며, 첫 번째 단계를 위한 추가 생산 계약도 앞으로 계속 체결될 것이라고 말했다. 그는 각 생산 로트가 Anduril과 General Atomics에 어떻게 배분될지는 밝히지 않았지만, 미 공군이 주문하는 기체 수는 "신속하고 대규모로 능력을 제공할 수 있는지"를 포함한 여러 요소에 따라 결정될 것이라고 설명했다. 또한 각 로트에서 생산될 CCA 수량과 기체당 가격은 추후 공개될 예정이라고 덧붙였다.

Helfrich는 미 공군이 비용을 낮추면서도 CCA 계약 체결과 기술 개발을 신속하게 이어가기 위해 혁신적인 획득 전략을 계속 활용할 계획이라고 말했다.

그는 이러한 독특한 획득 전략의 일부로, 미 공군이 "소프트웨어는 별도 판매(software sold separately)"라는 전략 아래 CCA의 하드웨어인 항공기 자체와 임무 자율성 소프트웨어를 분리해 구매한다고 설명했다.

미 공군은 성명을 통해 이러한 접근 방식이 "민첩하고 쉽게 업데이트할 수 있는 소프트웨어"를 확보하고, 이를 "최첨단 물리적 플랫폼"과 함께 운용할 수 있도록 함으로써 "기존 조달 방식의 틀을 사실상 깨뜨릴 것"이라고 밝혔다.

Helfrich는 항공기 생산 계약이 예정보다 4개월 앞당겨 체결되었으며, 이는 Anduril과 General Atomics의 CCA가 모두 충분한 성숙도를 갖추어 본격적인 양산 단계로 진입할 준비가 되었음을 보여준다고 말했다.

Helfrich는 "우리는 이 프로그램을 긴박하게 추진하고 있으며, 그 긴박함에는 분명한 목적이 있습니다"라고 말했다. "CCA 능력을 전투원들에게 제공하는 것이 우리에게 매우 중요합니다."

Helfrich는 Anduril과 General Atomics 두 회사를 모두 선정하는 과정에서 미 공군은 각 업체가 일정, 비용 기준, 성능 요구사항을 충족할 수 있는지를 종합적으로 검토했다고 말했다.

그는 처음부터 미 공군이 첫 번째 단계의 CCA를 두 업체가 함께 개발할 가능성을 염두에 두고 있었으며, 이를 통해 경쟁과 혁신을 더욱 촉진하려 했다고 설명했다.

Helfrich는 "그 가장 큰 이유는 지속적인 경쟁이 일정, 비용, 그리고 많은 경우 성능 면에서도 최고의 결과를 만들어낸다고 믿기 때문입니다"라고 말했다. "General Atomics와 Anduril 모두 우리의 일정, 비용 요구사항, 그리고 CCA에 필요한 능력을 충족할 수 있다는 것을 입증했습니다."

Helfrich는 지난 4월 캘리포니아에서 시험비행 이륙 직후 발생한 General Atomics YFQ-42A의 추락 사고는 두 업체에 계약을 수여하는 결정에 영향을 미치지 않았다고 말했다. 해당 사고 이후 YFQ-42A의 시험비행은 약 6주간 중단되었으며, 소프트웨어 수정이 이루어진 뒤 5월에 다시 재개됐다.

Helfrich는 Anduril, Shield AI, Collins가 각각 6개월짜리 계약 항목(CLIN)을 부여받아 그 기간 동안 임무 자율성 소프트웨어를 최대한 발전시켜 미 공군의 초기 운용능력(IOC) 기준을 충족하도록 할 것이라고 말했다. 6개월이 지난 뒤 미 공군은 각 업체의 소프트웨어 개발 수준을 평가한 후 다시 2개 업체, 또는 1개 업체만 남기는 추가 6개월 옵션을 부여할 예정이다. 2027년 여름 두 번째 옵션이 종료될 때에는 선정된 업체가 IOC를 달성해야 하며, 최종적으로 미 공군은 단일 업체를 선택하게 된다.

Helfrich는 미 공군의 임무 자율성 계약이 향후 지휘통제 프로젝트와 같은 다양한 기회를 공급업체 풀에 속한 6개 업체에 제공할 것이라고 말했다. 또한 미 공군은 이들 업체 가운데 어느 곳으로부터도 소프트웨어 라이선스를 구매할 수 있다고 설명했다.

Helfrich는 "임무 자율성 계약에는 상당히 많은 내용이 포함되어 있습니다. 우리는 최대한의 유연성을 확보하고 지속적인 경쟁을 유지하기를 원했기 때문입니다."라고 말했다.

Air Force Selects General Atomics and Anduril for CCA Production

Concepts of the uncrewed fighter aircraft YFQ-42A (bottom) and the YFQ-44A are pictured in artwork. (Artwork courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Anduril Industries)

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Air Force Selects Both General Atomics and Anduril for CCA Production

June 17, 2026 | By Stephen Losey

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The Air Force has selected both General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries to build its first fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, based on their YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, respectively.

The department announced June 17 it has awarded both companies engineering and manufacturing development and production contracts to officially build at least 150 CCAs combined by the end of the decade for the program’s first increment. 

The Air Force simultaneously announced it has competitively awarded production options to three companies—Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace—to deliver the critical mission autonomy software to fly the CCAs. Those companies were selected from a potential vendor pool that also includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics.

“We see CCA as representing the next evolution of airpower,” Col. Timothy Helfrich, the Air Force’s portfolio acquisition executive for fighters and advanced aircraft, said in a conference call with reporters. “It is our first instance of taking human-machine teaming into the aviation world … and being able to drive it operationally. When paired with our manned fighters, we can extend reach, increase survivability, and generate the mass that is necessary in combat in a highly contested environment.

The Air Force eventually wants a fleet of around 1,000 CCAs, of various types and levels of complexity, to augment its crewed fighters and aircraft such as the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, the sixth-generation F-47, and the F-22A Raptor. CCAs are intended to fly themselves and conduct strikes, reconnaissance missions, electronic warfare or jamming operations, with minimal direction from the pilots in the crewed aircraft they accompany. The Air Force wants the first increment of CCAs to have a combat radius of at least 700 nautical miles.

In April 2024, the Air Force awarded General Atomics and Anduril contracts to continue designing, building, and testing their proposed CCAs—for General Atomics, the YFQ-42A, and for Anduril, the YFQ-44A—and throughout 2025, both models proceeded through ground testing into flight testing.

Helfrich said the new contracts awarded were not extensions of the previous contracts awarded in 2024. The Air Force resolicited all five companies that originally bid on CCAs—including heavyweight contractors Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing—and ultimately continued with the companies that won the first round.

Now that production contracts have been awarded, these two CCAs now in testing will drop the Y prefix—which signifies an aircraft is a prototype—and become the FQ-42A and FQ-44A. Helfrich said the production CCAs have evolved and been refined to meet the Air Force’s operational needs, but are still fundamentally the same design.

“This is an exciting day for our company and the nation,” General Atomics Aeronautical Systems President David Alexander said in a statement. “Moving to production on FQ-42A is the result of an extraordinary partnership and many years of investments between General Atomics and the U.S. Air Force. We’ve been preparing for this order, and manufacturing is already well underway.”

“We have been refining, testing, and iterating on our production system, in parallel with aircraft development, for the past two years,” Anduril’s Vice President for autonomous airpower Mark Shushnar said in a statement. “We have already implemented our full rate production processes and tooling on prototype aircraft, identifying and addressing issues during prototyping to streamline the transition into production.”

Helfrich said the value of these CCA contracts is classified and could not be released, but that the Air Force is meeting or exceeding its stated goal of one-third as much as an F-35, or roughly less than $30 million per tail.

The contract covers the first three lots of CCAs, Helfrich said, and more production contracts will be awarded in the future for the first increment. He did not say how the lots will be divided between Anduril and General Atomics, but said how many tails the Air Force orders will depend on factors including how well they can deliver “capability at speed and scale.” Helfrich said details on how many CCAs will be built in each lot, and the cost of each CCA, will be released at a later date.

Helfrich said the Air Force plans to keep using innovative acquisition strategies to continue rapidly awarding CCA contracts and developing the technology while keeping costs down.

Part of that unique acquisition approach, he said, is in disconnecting the purchase of the CCA’s hardware—the aircraft itself—from its mission autonomy software under a strategy the service calls “software sold separately.” 

This approach will allow the Air Force to make sure it buys “agile, easily updatable software” that will work with “state-of-the-art physical platforms … effectively breaking traditional procurement molds,” the service said in a statement.

The air vehicle contracts were awarded four months ahead of schedule, Helfrich said, which shows both Anduril’s and General Atomics’ CCAs were mature enough to move ahead towards full-scale manufacturing.

“We are moving with urgency on this program, and that is urgency with purpose,” Helfrich said. “It is important for us to deliver [CCA] capability to the warfighter.”

In deciding to go with both Anduril and General Atomics, Helfrich said the Air Force considered whether vendors were able to meet the service’s schedule, cost criteria, and performance requirements.

From the start, Helfrich said, the Air Force thought it might have two vendors creating the first increment of CCAs, to better foster competition and innovation.

“A big reason for that is that we believe that continuous competition drives the best outcomes, both in schedule, cost, and often times in performance as well,” Helfrich said. “Both General Atomics and Anduril demonstrated that they had the ability to meet our schedule, meet our cost requirements, and meet the capabilities” needed for a CCA.

Helfrich said the April crash of a General Atomics YFQ-42A, which occurred in California shortly after takeoff for a test flight, was not a factor in the Air Force’s decision to award contracts to two firms. That crash led to a roughly six-week pause in YFQ-42A test flights, before resuming in May with a software fix.

Anduril, Shield AI, and Collins each received a six-month contract line item number, or CLIN, to advance their mission autonomy software as much as possible in that time to meet the Air Force’s initial operating capability criteria, Helfrich said. After that six months, the Air Force will see how far each company’s software has progressed and then down select further to two or even one remaining vendor for another six-month option. At the end of that second option in summer 2027, a company will need to have reached IOC, and the Air Force will ultimately make a single choice.

Helfrich said the Air Force’s mission autonomy contract will provide different opportunities for the six vendors in the pool, such as a future command-and-control project. The Air Force can choose to order software licenses from any of those vendors, he said.

“There’s quite a bit going on in the mission autonomy contract, because we wanted to provide max flexibility and keep continuous competition,” Helfrich said.

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“뭘 좋아할지 몰라서 다 준비했어”일까요...?

[위종민]

발주자인 미공군이 "내가 뭘 좋아할 지 나도 모르겠다."인 상태일 지도요... ㅎㅎㅎ

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미군의 마음이 정말 갈대와 같은게 미래전장환경에서 생존성이 떨어진다고 조기퇴역시킬 예정이었던 리퍼를 이란전역 등 고위험 환경에 아낌없이 밀어넣어 전과가 다대하니까 더 확보해야한다고 아우성치는 것...

사실 고위험환경에서 고민없이 투입할 수 있었던 것, 그리고 테러와의 전쟁 기간 표적획득에 대한 노하우가 결합된 결과물인데 갑자기 "리퍼가 이렇게 좋은 물건이었어?" 라는 분위기라 속된 말로 좀 깬다랄까요? 이후로 리퍼를 아껴쓴다면 지금같은 성과를 못낼테고 그럼 원래 평가대로 미래에는 살아남지 못하는 물건이라는 평가로 다시 돌아갈텐데....