As the Navy and Marine Corps begin to establish their own versions of the collaborative combat aircraft, lawmakers want more details on the acquisition and development strategy for the programs, according to a report accompanying the draft defense policy bill.

While the Air Force plans to buy its first CCAs next year, the Navy and Marine Corps are still in early development stages with their separate versions of the unmanned aircraft. House authorizers are directing both services to “leverage the mature and innovative technologies and processes” that were developed through the first increment of Air Force CCA development, according to the report.

The services plan to use the unmanned platform to support fourth, fifth and sixth-generation aircraft, like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Navy’s future F/A-XX fighter.

Before Dec. 15, 2026, the Navy secretary would be instructed to brief lawmakers on the acquisition strategies for both Navy and Marine Corps CCA programs, the report states.

“The briefing should include at a minimum: (1) development strategies and technology leveraged and incorporated from the Air Force CCA program; (2) opportunities to update the tri-service agreement to align capabilities and resources; and (3) the potential to field CCA as complementary to, or in place of, existing capabilities,” according to the report.

The Navy has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Anduril contracts for design work, while the Marine Corps plans to use the XQ-58 Valkyrie drone from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions. Northrop Grumman will also develop the software and mission systems for the Marine Corps CCA. 

The Marine Corps version of the CCA -- the Marine-Air Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft -- is set to begin operational testing in 2029, an official said in April. Four experimentation flights have demonstrated Manned-Unmanned teaming between the F-35 and XQ-58, according to the Marine Corps 2026 Aviation Plan.

In fiscal year 2026, the Marine Corps received $275 million for its MUX TACAIR program, while it requested $213.9 million for the program in FY-27 -- entirely through discretionary funding.