Aircraft program
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Previously known as Project Lotus (designed for USAF CCA Increment One program) then redesigned as 1,000 lbs lighter with 30% faster construction time due to a 50% part reduction and fully composite structure. In development.
The aircraft as engineered: what it is built from, the systems it flies with, and its configuration — each box a theme.
Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.
Supplier geography and market analysis for this program — with an Analytics subscription.
Subscribe| Variant | Launch / first flight | Production end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman YFQ-48A Talon Blue | 2025 / 2026 | Lightweight CCA with avionics developed using Northrop's Beacon testbed ecosystem, name references Northrop T-38 Talon. USAF designation: YFQ-48A, also known as Northrop Grumman Project Talon. |
| Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems | News |
The program’s dated history — milestones, contracts, supplier selections and facilities, each linked to its source. Log in to view.
Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.
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