The Netherlands has officially joined the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program — a next-generation initiative developing AI-enabled drones to fly alongside F-35 fighters. Signed in Washington by Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman ahead of the NL-US Defense Industry Days, the letter of intent cements deeper U.S.-Dutch defense cooperation.
The move reflects the Netherlands’ strategic ambition to advance in unmanned systems that operate in concert with crewed aircraft, controlled directly from the cockpit. By joining early, the Netherlands secures a place at the forefront of emerging AI-driven air combat architecture and strengthens its role in future coalition air operations.
