Edwards mission benefits from Air Force move to CCA open architecture

Published Feb. 12, 2026
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --

The Air Force recently integrated an open architecture framework for collaborative combat aircraft, providing the potential to propel the acquisition process forward faster with validation through test programs run by 412^th Test Wing Airmen.

Acceleration of the CCA program through implementation of autonomy government reference architecture, or A-GRA, across multiple vendor platforms validates a cornerstone of the Air Force’s acquisition transformation: using a using a modular, open-systems approach to supercharge the defense industrial base.

The initiative is a prime example of the department’s new approach to acquisition — one that prioritizes speed, innovation and a software-first mindset. The A-GRA is being integrated by the program’s mission autonomy vendors, RTX Collins and Shield AI, which have started semi-autonomous flight testing in partnership with General Atomics on the YFQ-42 platform and Anduril on the YFQ-44, respectively. Both companies recently conducted first flights of their YFQ-42A (General Atomics) and YFQ-44A (Anduril) designs.

YFQ-44 aircraft sitting on a runway. — YFQ-44 aircraft are parked on the flightline at a California test location for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The CCA initiative is transforming the acquisition process by proving a government-owned open architecture can break vendor lock and speed the delivery of superior capabilities to the warfighter. (Courtesy photo)

By proving the architecture functions effectively across different airframes and mission autonomy from different vendors, the Air Force is demonstrating that mission software can be decoupled from specific vehicle hardware, breaking down barriers for technology integration and fostering a more competitive and innovative ecosystem.

“Verifying A-GRA across multiple partners is critical to our acquisition strategy,” said Col. Timothy Helfrich, Portfolio Acquisition executive for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft. “It proves that we are not locked into a single solution or a single vendor. We are instead building a competitive ecosystem where the best algorithms can be deployed rapidly to the warfighter on any A-GRA compliant platform, regardless of the vendor providing the algorithm.

YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline. — YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline at a California test location as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign. The CCA program validates a modular, open-systems approach, allowing the Air Force to rapidly integrate the best technology from any vendor to equip the warfighter faster. (Courtesy photo)

The A-GRA is a Modular Open System Approach, designed to prevent "vendor lock" by establishing a universal standard for mission autonomy. This allows the Air Force to rapidly onboard new software and algorithms from a diverse range of traditional and non-traditional industry partners. This approach is central to the Air Force's effort to create a more agile and lethal force, capable of outpacing evolving threats.

“We are seeing the vision of a modular, adaptable force come to life,” the Agile Development Office director said. “Integrating A-GRA onto multiple platforms so quickly demonstrates that our open-system approach works. It allows us to iterate tactics and capabilities across the fleet at a pace that keeps us ahead of the threat.”

As the program advances, the continuous evaluation of the A-GRA provides the foundational data needed to field a decisive operational capability. This effort directly supports the National Defense Strategy by developing platforms that complement major weapons systems and ensures the Air Force remains on track to deliver an affordable, adaptable, and potent force multiplier for the joint force.