The 19th Fighter Squadron, an F-15 unit at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, recently received the Raytheon Trophy for 2009, being recognized as the Air Force’s best air-to-air fighter squadron. Ironically, the award comes in the unit’s last year of operations as it is one of the squadrons set for decommissioning under USAF’s planned legacy fighter drawdown. “Although it doesn’t feel good to close down a squadron, it does feel good to finish off our last full year as a Raytheon Trophy Winner,” said Lt. Col Suhr, 19th FS director of operations. In late March, members of the unit returned from training exercises in Hawaii and Thailand, having completed the squadron’s last deployments. The Minnesota Air Guard’s 148th FW won the trophy for 2008. (JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam report by TSgt. Cohen Young)
CCA’s AI Pilots Step into the Spotlight
March 9, 2026
Just one year ago, Collaborative Combat Aircraft took center stage as then-Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin designated the two competing jets prototypes as the first unmanned fighters in Air Force history: General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A. Twelve months later, it’s the autonomy software that’s flying those aircraft garnering the attention. Autonomy software, more than hardware, may prove the most valuable and enduring element of the CCA program.