The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program is one of the most ambitious efforts in modern U.S. military aviation. The goal is to field over 1,000 stealthy, autonomous drones that can jam radars, scout enemy defenses, carry missiles, and even strike targets on their own – all while flying alongside manned fighters like the F-35 and the upcoming sixth-generation F-47 NGAD jet.In this video, we break down what the Air Force is actually asking for and the five major contenders fighting to win the contract – including Lockheed’s Vectis, General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Gambit series, Anduril’s Fury, Boeing’s Ghost Bat, and Northrop’s highly secretive Model 437.Intro – 00:00-01:02Ad read – 01:02-2:07What the Air Force wants – 2:07-04:55How we got here – 04:55-06:07The contenders – 06:07-13:27Why this matters – 13:27-End