US EditionNetherlands Joins Air Force Program to Augment Fighter Jet Potency with Drones
The Netherlands gains full access to the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, aiming to deploy over 1,000 autonomous drone wingmen to enhance surveillance and strike capabilities.
- On Oct. 16, 2025, the Netherlands signed a pact to join the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, with Gijs Tuinman, Netherlands State Secretary for Defense, signing at the Netherlands embassy in Washington, D.C.
- Faced with drone incursions, European officials noted Russian forces violated NATO airspace, prompting Dutch officials to seek intermediate-layer drones for surveillance and strike capabilities.
- Pointing to expected pairings, officials said two drone wingmen could operate with a fighter, with a need for over 1,000 CCA in the near future, and press materials show a YFQ-42A prototype flown.
- The pact includes industrial cooperation whereby General Atomics and Dutch partners establish UAS manufacturing with VDL Defentec, boosting production and opening sales for U.S. defense firms seeking European customers.
- The Dutch press release says drones developed with General Atomics should enter service by next year, while Australia, Japan and Denmark have also announced cooperation in the program.
12 Articles
12 Articles
On October 16, the Council of the European Union announced that a "provisional" agreement had been reached by the twenty-seven member states on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), with an initial budget of €1.5 billion in grants. The latter aims to "increase the European Union's preparedness in... This article The Netherlands will join the US Air Force's collaborative combat drone program appeared first on Zone Militaire.
(https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2025/10/16/defensie-sluit-aan-bij-amerikaans-initiatief-voor-onbemenste-luchtsystemen), this action is part of the drive for innovation and cooperation in the field of unmanned systems as part of the broader Defence Strategy for Industry and Innovation.
Netherlands Joins U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
The RNLAF becomes the first European air force to join the U.S. Air Force’s CCA initiative, and aims to assume a leading role in the development of the “loyal wingman” drone. The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has become the first European air force to formally join the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) […]
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