General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has reached a major milestone in its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Air Force, as the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) begins flight testing. The aircraft represents the latest step in the service's ambitious vision to field large numbers of affordable, jet-powered unmanned systems capable of securing air dominance.
The YFQ-42A CCA was developed in record time, with GA-ASI delivering a flying prototype just over a year after work began. Company president David R. Alexander highlighted the significance of this achievement, crediting the close cooperation between industry and the Air Force.
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"It's been our collaboration that enabled us to build and fly the YFQ-42A CCA in just over a year. It's an incredible achievement and I salute the Air Force for its vision and our team for delivering another historic first," he said.
Designed primarily for air-to-air roles, the YFQ-42A CCA leverages concepts introduced on GA-ASI's earlier XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS). The aircraft integrates a stealthy design with semi-autonomous operation, making it a force multiplier in contested environments. Its genus-species design approach allows for rapid adaptation of core technologies across multiple platforms.
At the heart of the program lies an advanced autonomy core, trained using GA-ASI's jet-powered MQ-20 Avenger drone over five years of testing. This AI-driven system allows the YFQ-42A CCA to perform complex missions alongside manned aircraft, enhancing survivability and combat effectiveness. The integration of AI with stealth and air-to-air capability reflects the Air Force's growing emphasis on teaming between manned fighters and unmanned systems.
Ground testing of the YFQ-42A CCA began in May 2025, and flight trials mark the next phase of development. The U.S. Air Force designated the aircraft in March, with "Y" denoting its status as a production-representative prototype, "F" for fighter, and “Q” for uncrewed. The Air Force intends to remove the "Y" once the system transitions into full-rate production.
The CCA program aims to produce over 1,000 collaborative aircraft on an accelerated timeline, creating a scalable fleet to augment manned fighters like the F-35 and Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platforms. GA-ASI has prioritized a high-rate production environment to meet this demand, building on its proven track record of delivering over 1,200 uncrewed aircraft to date.
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