Experimental Operations Unit activated, accelerating Collaborative Combat Aircraft integration

Published June 6, 2025
53rd Wing Public Affairs

Experimental Operations Unit Activation Ceremony

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 53rd Wing formally activated the Experimental Operations Unit during a ceremony held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 5, 2025.

The unit, which has operated as a detachment since 2023, has now been elevated to a fully operational squadron equivalent, marking a significant step forward in the Department of the Air Force’s focus to deliver substantial operational capability for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 before the end of the decade.

"This is a pivotal moment for our force," said Col. Daniel Lehoski, 53rd wing commander. "The EOU embodies our commitment to rapid innovation and ensuring our warfighters have the most advanced tools to dominate the future battlespace. They are ready to reduce risk in concurrency and deliver capability faster."

Designed as uncrewed force multipliers, CCA will leverage autonomy to partner with 5th and 6th generation crewed fighters to provide operational flexibility for the Joint Force, and will span a spectrum of capability, cost and missions.

The deliberate development of mission autonomy tightly coupled with a principled protection of human decision-making is a natural evolution of the Air Force’s tradition of innovation in flight. The EOU will play a key role in this process, providing a proving ground for testing and refining human-machine teaming concepts for CCA in realistic scenarios.

"We are here to accelerate the delivery of combat-ready capabilities to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Matthew Jensen, EOU commander. "Our experimental operations will ensure that CCA are immediately viable as a credible combat capability that increases Joint Force survivability and lethality."

The EOU will integrate into the Virtual Warfare Center and the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center Nellis to conduct realistic simulations and refine non-materiel considerations of CCA employment concepts in a virtual environment. The unit also plans to conduct live-fly experiments to verify simulation results and optimize tactics, techniques and procedures.

“Our vision is to create a collaborative combat ecosystem that is more agile, adaptable and lethal,” Jensen said. “This will enable our forces to dominate the future battlespace and achieve decisive advantages in complex, contested environments.”

The activation of the EOU demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to realizing the vision of Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David W. Allvin, who has emphasized the importance of CCA in delivering affordable mass and maintaining a competitive edge against potential adversaries.