Anduril YFQ-44

The Anduril YFQ-44, internally named "Fury", is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) currently under development by Anduril Industries. The aircraft is one of the winning designs for Increment I of the United States Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and is intended to augment crewed fighter aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning, and the planned Next Generation Air Dominance fighter for air-to-air missions through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).

Development and design

The YFQ-44 was originally designed by Blue Force Technologies as an aggressor platform, initially called "Grackle" before being renamed "REDmedium" and eventually "Fury", to simulate high-end threats. Blue Force Technologies was acquired by Anduril in 2023, and the Fury design was adapted as a submission for the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) CCA program. The design was eventually selected as one of the two winners of the Increment I CCA alongside the General Atomics YFQ-42.

The Fury's design as of 2023 is a fighter-like UCAV that is approximately half the dimensions of an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its configuration consists of swept trapezoidal wings, chin-mounted inlet, a cruciform tail arrangement with stabilators and a single vertical stabilizer, and weapons mounted on external hardpoints. The aircraft is designed to fly at up to 50,000 feet (15,200 m) and Mach 0.95, and capable of pulling a maximum of 9 g, while sustaining up to 4.5 g at about 20,000 feet (6,100 m). The Fury is to be powered by a single Williams FJ44-4M turbofan engine producing 4,000 pounds-force (17.8 kN) of thrust and has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 5,000 pounds (2,270 kg). The design is expected to provide the USAF with "affordable mass" to augment its crewed fighters in air-to-air missions; its low cost nature, while not attritable, enables users and commanders to take greater risks with them. A mockup of the design was showcased during a September 2024 USAF conference.

The aircraft received its formal designation during the 2025 Air & Space Forces Association symposium. Flight testing is expected to begin in summer of 2025.

Specifications (estimated)

Data from The War Zone

General characteristics

• Crew: 0 onboard
• Length: 20 ft (6.1 m)
• Wingspan: 17 ft (5.2 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Williams FJ44-4M turbofan, 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 0.95
• Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
• g limits: 9 / −3

Armament

• Hardpoints: 2× weapons stations
• Missiles: 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• General Atomics YFQ-42

Related lists

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles

References