Lockheed Martin’s Project Carrera initiative aims to enhance the F-35 fighter jet to operate alongside up to eight autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). These CCAs are designed to support the F-35’s combat capabilities and neutralize enemy defenses without a crew. Project Carrera was launched in 2022, initially targeting the F-35 to work with a small, expendable drone named Speed Racer.
Interaction of Manned and Unmanned Systems
According to John Clark, Vice President of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Project Carrera establishes a framework for effective communication between manned and autonomous systems. This allows F-35s to benefit from the support of CCAs in missions such as suppressing or defeating integrated enemy air defenses (SEAD).
Transition to the Age of Autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft
As part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, CCAs include unmanned aircraft supported by artificial intelligence, with expectations for further advancement under a budget of $577.1 million by 2025. While CCAs are being developed to work in conjunction with the F-35 in the initial phase, the goal is to support them with more comprehensive operational functions in the long term.
A Core Component for U.S. and Allied Security: F-35
Lockheed Martin CEO James D. Taiclet emphasizes that the F-35 is an indispensable component of the security of the U.S. and its allies. The company is developing a flight control and communication system for the F-35 to interact with CCAs. In this context, the interoperability of the F-35 and CCA systems offers a significant advantage in achieving superiority against enemy air defense capabilities.
CCA as a Strategic Force Multiplier
According to Major General Joseph Kunkel, Design Director of the U.S. Air Force, the initial CCAs are planned to operate as “missile trucks,” but future versions are expected to be equipped with additional mission sets such as electronic attack and resilient sensing networks.
CCA systems enable the U.S. to target more effectively on the battlefield through a “cost-effective mass” strategy. These autonomous aircraft hold great potential to support allies’ air superiority, deceive the enemy, and maximize operational impacts.
The partnership between the F-35 and CCA, empowered by Project Carrera, signifies a major transformation in air power projection. These developments provide a strategic advantage in modern battlefields by disrupting the enemy’s OODA loop and impeding decision-making processes.
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