Overview
- The Anduril YFQ-44A fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM at a digital target in secluded Mojave Desert airspace, a live‑fire step the Air Force announced on Wednesday that proved an end‑to‑end, beyond‑line‑of‑sight engagement sequence.
- The service and industry emphasized that a human operator retained command and control of the firing decision, consistent with the CCA rule that the platforms will not autonomously release weapons.
- The live shot follows a deliberate phased test plan this year that moved from inert captive‑carry checks to data‑link validation before executing a live launch, and the event was run with the 412th Test Wing’s mixed military, civilian and contractor test team.
- Anduril’s YFQ‑44A and General Atomics’ YFQ‑42A have production contracts for CCA Increment 1, and the Air Force expects a YFQ‑42A live‑fire later in 2026 as it seeks roughly $1.4 billion for development and nearly $1 billion for procurement in its FY2027 budget request.
- The program aims to field lower‑cost ‘loyal wingmen’ to extend sensor reach and take risk off crewed fighters, a change that could reshape tactics, basing and force sizing as the service scales software competition and manufacturing into the late 2020s.