The Air Force will create active associations with every Air Force Reserve fighter squadron in the coming years as it looks to cut costs and maximize capabilities, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Thursday. At the same time, Air Mobility Command intends to utilize associations at all future KC-46 tanker units located inside the continental United States, he said at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. Air Force leaders have said they plan to bump the number of associations from 100 to 115 across the Fiscal 2013-2017 future years defense program. Secretary Michael Donley has said there may be even more room for growth with associations beyond that.
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.