The U.S. Air Force has chosen to locate its first “Aircraft Readiness Unit” for the forthcoming drone wingmen, or “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (CCA), at Beale Air Force Base in northern California. The CCA, which is expected to accompany the F-47 NGAD sixth-generation fighter, has begun ground testing in preparation for a first test flight, scheduled for this summer. “Starting ground tests is a key milestone for the CCA Increment 1 program,” said General David Allvin, Air Force Chief of Staff. “This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, reducing integration risks, boosting confidence, and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter.” The Aircraft Readiness Unit, stationed at Beale AFB, will “provide combat aircraft ready to deploy worldwide at a moment’s notice,” according to the Air Force. Accordingly, the CCA is expected to “fly a significant number of daily sorties to maintain readiness.” But all that comes later. Right now, ground testing is underway, which “includes rigorous evaluations” of the CCA’s “propulsion systems, avionics, autonomy integration, and ground control interfaces.” The testing is designed to “validate performance, inform future design decisions, and prepare the systems for flight testing later this year.”

Full report : The United States Air Force has chosen Beale Air Force Base for its new Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.