U.S. Air Force Launches Experimental Operations Unit

Activation looks to accelerate the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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Two examples of potential Collaborative Combat Aircraft [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force/General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force has formally activated its Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) at Nellis AFB into a full squadron equivalent to accelerate the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
The EOU will conduct both virtual simulations and live-fly experiments to integrate combat drones with human pilots, aiming for fully operational CCA capabilities by the end of the decade.
The CCA program represents a strategic shift towards a human-machine partnership, where drones will augment manned aircraft by handling tasks like ordnance delivery and intelligence, enhancing air superiority, and reducing human risk.
This initiative is crucial for the Air Force to gain a decisive advantage in contested environments and to outpace evolving threats.

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The U.S. Air Force is launching an effort to help teach combat drones to play well with human pilots—and vice versa.

Last week, the Air Force’s 53rd Wing formally activated the Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) into a fully operational squadron equivalent. During a ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, the unit, which had been operating as a detachment since 2023, received its new elevation.