Northrop Grumman Tests Swappable Autonomy Systems on CCA Testbed Mid-Flight
Northrop Grumman has successfully demonstrated a critical capability for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. During a two-hour flight, the company's Model 401 testbed aircraft successfully switched between different autonomy systems while airborne. This test validates a government-owned, open-architecture software framework, a central requirement for the CCA initiative. The achievement proves that the Air Force can rapidly integrate and field new autonomous capabilities from various suppliers. This modular approach is essential for preventing vendor lock-in and ensuring the rapid evolution of future autonomous combat drones.
Official Source: https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/northrop-cca-testbed-switched-autonomy-systems-flight
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