NAVAIR Issues RFI for Carrier-Based Autonomous Combat Drone

This is original reporting and analysis by AirPro News.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has formally initiated its search for a carrier-capable autonomous combat drone, issuing a Request for Information on August 31, 2026, that demands a first flight within 24 months of a contract award.

The solicitation, published on the U.S. government contracting site SAM.gov on behalf of the Future Advanced Capability Program Management Office (PMA-228), outlines requirements for the Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 1 Prototype Project. The Navy is seeking industry capability statements to deliver two fully functional prototype air vehicles capable of operating from Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear aircraft carriers (CVNs).

Rapid acquisition and technical specifications

The RFI establishes an aggressive development schedule for the CCA program. NAVAIR requires the selected contractor to achieve first flight of the prototype within 24 months of the agreement award. The aircraft must also reach shore-based carrier certification within three years.

To meet the Navy’s operational needs, the uncrewed aircraft must be capable of carrying up to four weapons externally, with a maximum weight of 2,500 pounds per weapon. The prototypes must be designed to operate in maritime environments up to Sea State 5. The solicitation emphasizes that physical dimensions, height, width, and weight thresholds must align with existing carrier deck, elevator, and hangar bay constraints.

According to the RFI document, the Navy has set an affordability goal of $30 million per unit. The service outlined the strategic necessity of the program in the solicitation:

As threat networks grow increasingly complex, the Navy must adapt combat strategies by focusing on collaborative manned-unmanned operations, modular open standards, and rapid, cost-effective prototyping.

Strategic shift toward uncrewed carrier aviation

The Navy’s move into hardware prototyping follows similar initiatives across the Department of Defense (DoD). According to reporting by DefenseScoop, the U.S. Air Force awarded Increment 1 production contracts in mid-2026 to General Atomics for the YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril for the YFQ-44A Fury. The outlet also noted that the U.S. Marine Corps has awarded development contracts to Northrop Grumman and Kratos for uncrewed platforms.

The NAVAIR program aims to provide the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) with lethal, survivable, and persistent platforms capable of operating directly from the sea. Industry responses to the RFI are due by September 18, 2026. NAVAIR has scheduled an Industry Day for September 22, 2026, in California, Maryland, to further discuss the prototype project requirements with prospective contractors.

AirPro News analysis

We note that the specifications outlined in the August 31 RFI suggest a pivot toward a heavy, strike-capable uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) rather than a lightweight “loyal wingman” designed solely to absorb enemy fire or carry sensors. The requirement to carry four 2,500-pound external weapons indicates a platform with significant payload capacity and structural robustness. This capability profile closely echoes the ambitions of the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program and the Northrop Grumman X-47B demonstrator, a historical parallel also highlighted by aviation publication The War Zone. By demanding a $30 million unit cost alongside heavy payload and carrier suitability, the Navy is setting a high bar for manufacturers attempting to balance affordability with the structural penalties inherent to carrier aviation.

Sources: SAM.gov (NAVAIR)