(Tribune News Service) — Beale Air Force Base will be home to a new mission that could return the Northern California installation to the forefront of defense technology.

Beale, near Marysville, Calif., was announced as the home of the Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft’s readiness unit and its semiautonomous, unmanned aircraft, a mission that Air Force leaders and California lawmakers are calling a milestone.

One of the mission’s ultimate goals, said Air Force officials: “delivering combat power at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighters.”

“This is a major win for Beale AFB and a vote of confidence in the capabilities of our region,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, in a statement Friday announcing the move. “These aircraft represent the future of the Air Force —autonomous, highly capable, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. This new mission not only solidifies Beale’s role in our national defense, but also brings new technology and investment to our region.”

LaMalfa and California Sen. Adam Schiff worked to bring the unit to Northern California. The Beale site beat out Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and North Dakota’s Grand Forks Air Force Base for the technologically advanced unit.

The two lawmakers toured Beale just weeks ago ahead of the Air Force’s announcement, LaMalfa’s office said.

“When we visited Beale Air Force Base just a couple weeks ago, I met committed California servicemembers working to protect our nation and apply new technologies to the adapting threats we face,” Schiff is quoted in the statement. “As the West Coast remains on the front line for deterring adversaries in the Pacific and the home of the nation’s technological innovation, I’m proud to see Yuba County at the tip of the spear for promoting America’s national security.”

Two aircraft, the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, are undergoing ground testing to evaluate engine performance, avionics and other metrics before moving to flight testing later this year, said Air Force officials. A decision on production of the aircraft is expected in 2026.

“This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter,” U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said in a statement.

“We’re moving fast because the warfighter needs this capability,” Allvin said. “These aircraft will help us turn readiness into operational dominance.”

The ability to take combat-ready aircraft to the skies at a moment’s notice is a key component of Beale’s new mission. Efficiency is just as important, said Air Force officials in informational materials detailing the new unit.

The new unmanned aircraft means fewer sorties or training missions to maintain flight readiness. The aircraft will be ready to fly at any time, but minimally flown so fewer airmen will be needed to support the fleet, Air Force officials said.

The incoming unit marks a reunion of sorts for the Northern California base. The RQ-4 Global Hawk, the unmanned, remotely-piloted, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that supported operations including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, patrolled the skies from its Beale Air Force Base home from 2004 until it was pulled from the base in 2022.

In addition to its new mission with future unmanned combat aircraft, Beale plays a key role in national defense with several important operations.

The base is home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and the U-2 “Dragon Lady,” a high-altitude spy plane that gathers intelligence from around the world. These aircraft have even been used recently to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border. Beale also supports aerial refueling with KC-135 tankers, which help other aircraft stay in the air longer.

The base will host to its annual air and space expo June 7-8. Tickets and more information are available at bealeairshow.com.

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