The Pentagon is initiating the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) project to integrate AI-guided drones with human-piloted jets.

Private companies including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Anduril Industries have been awarded contracts for the CCA project.

The project aims to bolster the U.S. Air Force with an additional 1,000 drones, focusing on cost efficiency and deploying 'small, smart, cheap and many' AI-enabled autonomous vehicles.

AI-powered drones such as Boeing's Ghost Bat, Anduril's Roadrunner, and General Atomics' Avenger have been highlighted, with Lockheed Martin presenting an AI-piloted training plane, the VISTA X-62A.

Northrop Grumman has yet to showcase its contribution to the CCA project in terms of AI capabilities.

The Pentagon has refrained from commenting on the developments of the CCA project.