The new drone will resemble the US Air Force’s “Collaborative Combat Aircraft,” but the Navy has requested specific changes—including the ability to operate from aircraft carriers and in rough seas.

The United States Navy is following the lead of the United States Air Force in determining that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will be vital to supporting manned aircraft, acting as so-called “loyal wingmen.” The US Air Force has called for a fleet of as many as 1,000 of such drones, its so-called “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (CCAs), which could serve as a force multiplier by providing reconnaissance, extending sensor reach, and most importantly by taking on high-risk tasks at a lower cost than the manned fifth- and sixth-generation fighters.

Even as the Navy has yet to formally announce details of its own loyal wingman program—including which contractor will build the F/A-XX, the future sixth-generation carrier-based fighter that will eventually replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet—the sea service released a new call from industry on Monday for the first phase of the program. 

In its “Request for Information (RFI) for Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 Prototype Project,” the US Navy noted that it is seeking a CCA-type drone that can carry up to 5 tons of weapons, yet cost no more than $30 million per unit.

“The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of the Future Advanced Capability Program Office (PMA-228), is seeking industry feedback and capability statements for the Increment 1 (Inc 1) Prototype Development and Demonstration of an affordable, highly capable, risk tolerant, carrier-capable, weaponized, extended range, autonomous unmanned air vehicle that can seamlessly deploy from and recover to Gerald R. Ford-class and Nimitz-class Nuclear Aircraft Carriers (CVN),” the RFI read.

Interested parties are expected to develop and deliver two prototypes for testing within the next three years. As noted, production models must cost no more than $30 million each by the time of full-rate production, though prototype costs will almost certainly be higher.

The Navy Drone’s Key Technical Requirements

The Navy listed the new drone’s key points in its “Technical Requirements Matrix.” Among other items, it specified that the CCA must be carrier-capable and able to make catapult takeoffs and landings on the service’s nuclear-powered supercarriers, and that landings can be made using “the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) and Landing Autonomous Navigation Technology for Enhanced Recovery to Navy Ships (LANTERNS).”

In addition, the CCA will need to rely on existing shipboard logistics capabilities, notably the Common Support Equipment (CSE). However, the Navy specified that it should minimize the use of Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) or “specialized deck-handling tools.”

The CCA will also need to be able to operate in “Sea State 5” conditions, classified as waves up to 13 feet and wind speeds of around 17–21 knots (19.5–24.1 mph). Although the prototypes can utilize proprietary Ground Control Stations (GCS), it should be compatible with the MD-5 Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS).

The US Navy was also specific in the weapons load that the CCA will need to carry, but gave prospective vendors some flexibility in how ordnance could be carried.

“Solution must feature reconfigurable weapon payload carriage to execute strike missions,” the RFI read. “Both internal and external weapon carriage designs will be considered, with capacity and survivability being driving factors in design evaluation. Solution must have the ability to carry four (4) weapons up to 2,500 lbs each externally throughout the target flight envelope and carrier certification flights.”

In addition, the CCA will need to incorporate radios, sensors, and other secure tactical datalinks that provide connectivity with US Navy warships and shore systems.

“Solution must be compliant with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), GRAs (AMS, A-GRA) to ensure interoperability and rapid capability insertion as well as compliance with Universal Armament Interface (UAI) where applicable for weapons,” the RFI noted. “Physical dimensions, height, width, and weight thresholds must meet carrier deck, elevator, and hangar bay requirements.”

The request emphasized that the drones should not take up more space than a fourth-generation fighter, and that there would be a minimum of specialized support or deck-handling equipment to support the drone operations.

Interested Parties Must Respond to the Navy by Friday

The RFI set a response date of September 18. That doesn’t give industry much time to respond, but there are almost certainly prototypes being developed for the Air Force’s CCA program that could be adapted to the Navy’s needs.

Both branches of the US military are fully committed to developing loyal wingmen drones, and this simply narrows the specifications.

At present, Boeing is developing the MQ-25 Stingray, the US Navy’s first carrier-based uncrewed aerial refueling aircraft. The Stingray is unarmed, but could take over the “buddy tanking” job of the F/A-18 Super Hornets, freeing those valuable fighters for primary strike and air defense missions. In April, a Stingray conducted its maiden test flight from the company’s facility at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and it has already entered low-rate initial production (LRIP). The Navy recently agreed to pay $552 million for initial production of three Stingrays and key components for three more.

In June, the US Air Force awarded contracts to Anduril and General Atomics to engineer, manufacture, and produce the FQ-44 Fury and the FQ-42 Vengeance, respectively. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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