Northrop Grumman / Scaled Composites Model 444 / Project Lotus / YFQ-48A Talon Blue CCA

Hydroman said:
I think the USAF is going to spread the wealth across a number of different primes due to the different mission types, maybe kind of like an LCS program for aircraft where the USN bought two different types of LCS but for the basic littoral mission, for the aircraft, just the inverse multiple platforms, multiple mission types. NG may have already been selected for something due to their work with the Scaled aircraft prototypes, this may be the reason for the quick YFQ-48 desigation, we still need YFQ-45, 46, and 47.
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I think the USAF envisions multiple active production lines and fielding multiple types concurrently. This seems like a deliberate attempt to grow the entire industry, similarly to how SDA is managing its constellations.
 

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Well the lack of cockpit probably changes the aerodynamics and certainly deletes a lot of weight.
 
raptor82 said:
So, the YFQ-48A is roughly the same size as Model 437 & 401, but with a significantly smaller wingspan?

www.newsweek.com

Exclusive: Photos show new flying drone that could accompany next-gen jets

Fighter jets currently in development will make use of more advanced uncrewed aircraft than ever before.
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Jones said the new and improved Project Talon cut the weight of the drone by about half a ton and reduced the number of parts required in half, compared with the first version.
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I am a little unclear concerning YFQ-48’s status. Is it officially in the running for CCA Incr1 or is it merely a candidate for Incr2? Some of the news articles seem to talk like it was a competitor to YFQ-42/44, but as far as I know NG is out of the Incr1 competition.
 
Josh_TN said:
I am a little unclear concerning YFQ-48’s status. Is it officially in the running for CCA Incr1 or is it merely a candidate for Incr2? Some of the news articles seem to talk like it was a competitor to YFQ-42/44, but as far as I know NG is out of the Incr1 competition.
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The USAF has said that they aren't limiting themselves to the 42A or 44A when it comes to the next milestone for increment 1. In other words, they could send the 48A into the next milestone instead of, or in addition to, the other two.
 
Josh_TN said:
I am a little unclear concerning YFQ-48’s status. Is it officially in the running for CCA Incr1 or is it merely a candidate for Incr2?
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Anduril and GA won the development contract for Inc 1. The production contract will be recompeted amongst the wider set of suppliers. Which I think is where NG Talon comes in.
 

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