Charlotte Bailey joined AIN’s editorial team in 2025 as a news reporter covering multiple topics including business aviation, new technology and the defense sector. She is also a frequent presenter in AIN’s video news reports. 
UK-based Charlotte has a strong interest in vintage military jets and in 2023 published a book about the de Havilland Vampire, as well as serving as a consultant on the topic for TV and movie projects. She is keen to expand her flying experience and enjoys hands-on assignments worldwide. In 2024, Charlotte was honored as Best New Journalist in the Aerospace Media Awards. Early in her career, Charlotte was involved in manufacturing customized hot air balloons.

News Reporter 

Charlotte Bailey

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has conducted work to control an airborne Anduril Industries YFQ-44A Fury collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) in flight. The trial took place earlier this month and involved a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
In a statement issued on October 16, the USAF announced the fighter jet had “executed airborne tactical command and in-flight control” of the uncrewed aircraft. It explained that the YFQ-44A’s onboard autonomy system was able to interpret and execute directives from the F-22 in real time, “conducting dynamic flight manoeuvres and simulated combat tasks.”&nbsp;
The exercise builds on ongoing efforts to develop and demonstrate mission teaming capabilities for CCAs. The USAF said it intends to procure over 150 combat capable autonomous systems operational by the end of the decade.&nbsp;
Commenting on the most recent exercise, air force secretary Troy Meink stated that the U.S. is “driving urgency into every part of acquisition from rapid integration and flight learning to disciplined assessment.”&nbsp;
The U.S. defense department added that it will use data from this test milestone to inform continued software integration, developmental testing and the air force’s future CCA concepts.&nbsp;
In June, Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems were both awarded engineering, manufacturing development, and production contracts from the USAF to build an unspecified number of their respective FQ-44 and FQ-42 CCAs. These were awarded as part of the ongoing Pentagon program’s ‘Increment 1’ round, four months ahead of schedule. Six OEM’s designs are expected to be selected as part of the upcoming Increment 2 phase.&nbsp;
The following month, the USAF also <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2026-08-02/us-air-force-ccas-ace-operational-exercise">flew the YFQ-44A</a> alongside unspecific uncrewed fighters in what it termed “a realistic operational environment.” At the time, the air force explained that the multi-day exercise was devised with “the primary goal of building the foundational tactics, techniques and procedures that will define how CCAs are integrated into the force.”&nbsp;

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

U.S. Air Force F-22 Fighter Jet Controls Anduril YFQ-44A Drone Flight

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The U.S. Air Force has conducted crewed-uncrewed teaming of an Anduril Industries YFQ-44A Fury collaborative combat aircraft during a test flight.

F-22 Fighter Jet Controls Anduril YFQ-44A Drone Flight

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