U.S. Air Force targets 1,000 autonomous aircraft by 2032

The U.S. Air Force has announced plans to field approximately 1,000 autonomous aircraft by 2032, including at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and 500 Mass Modular Aircraft. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed these targets during the 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, noting that the service aims to pair manned aircraft with low-cost autonomous systems to increase combat power at scale.

The first two Increment 1 aircraft have been named the FQ-42 Vengeance, produced by General Atomics, and the FQ-44 Fury, produced by Anduril. These semi-autonomous systems are designed to operate alongside crewed fighters like the F-35 to provide additional sensors and weapons. While the aircraft can handle navigation and other tasks within human-established parameters, the Air Force emphasized that humans will retain control over weapon employment.

Meink highlighted the need for rapid acquisition reform and open-system architectures to counter adversaries who are adopting technologies like artificial intelligence and one-way attack drones more quickly than traditional procurement cycles allow. Additionally, the U.S. Space Force confirmed the deployment of on-orbit weapons intended to protect the joint force.