Inside the Air Force’s quest to build drone wingmen

Inside the Air Force’s quest to build drone wingmen, the video explains the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to deploy over 1,000 stealthy, autonomous drones capable of jamming radars, scouting enemy defenses, carrying missiles, and striking targets independently while flying alongside manned fighters such as the F‑35 and the upcoming sixth‑generation F‑47 NGAD jet. The video breaks down what the Air Force is actually asking for and discusses the five major contenders vying for the contract—Lockheed’s Vectis, General Atomics’ YFQ‑42A and Gambit series, Anduril’s Fury, Boeing’s Ghost Bat, and Northrop’s highly secretive Model 437. It also covers how the program evolved, why it matters, and the implications for modern warfare. Intro - 00:00-01:02 Ad read - 01:02-2:07 What the Air Force wants - 2:07-04:55 How we got here - 04:55-06:07 The contenders - 06:07-13:27 Why this matters - 13:27-End