AviationNews – The Netherlands has become the first NATO country to formally partner with the US military on its groundbreaking program to develop unmanned fighter aircraft, marking a pivotal shift toward autonomous aerial combat. The collaboration will explore fielding pilotless jets designed to serve as “loyal wingmen” for the Dutch Air Force’s manned F-35 fleet, entrusting drones with the most dangerous combat roles.
The partnership was formalized by the Ministry of Defence, which signed a cooperation agreement with the US military on Thursday. This development is driven by a shared belief that stealth-capable, autonomous combat drones offer a cheaper and safer alternative for high-risk missions.
In January 2024, the USAF awarded contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to design aircraft for the first increment of the project. Three months later, in April, Anduril and GA-ASI were selected to advance in the CCA effort and were tasked with producing detailed designs and a production representative test aircraft.
The critical design review was completed in late 2024, with maiden prototype CCA flights planned for 2025. Anduril’s and GA-ASI’s prototypes were given the mission designations YFQ-44A and YFQ-42A in March 2025.
These next-generation combat drones, though slightly smaller than traditional jets, omit a cockpit and are instead equipped with sophisticated computers and sensors. Operating as a ‘wingman,’ the drone receives mission objectives from the pilot of an F-35, such as conducting precision strikes, disrupting enemy radar, or shooting down hostile aircraft upon a human pilot’s command. Since these unmanned systems are expected to cost roughly one-third the price of an F-35—approximately €30 million per unit—they offer an economically and operationally superior way to penetrate increasingly deadly, advanced enemy air defenses.
State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman emphasized the strategic urgency of the agreement: “By joining now, the Netherlands seizes an opportunity to be at the forefront of this. This opens doors for our knowledge institutions and companies to help build these new aircraft.”
The shift to autonomous jets is motivated by both escalating costs—an F-35 costs around €90 million—and the soaring lethality of modern air defenses from adversaries like Russia and China. By fielding networked, cheaper, and expendable autonomous systems with the same stealth capabilities as the F-35, NATO aims to project overwhelming force without risking its most expensive aircraft or, crucially, its highly trained pilots. The collaboration will allow the Netherlands to shape the development of the drones, ensuring seamless integration with the F-35 and maintaining a technological edge in future air warfare.
