Thu, May 22, 2025
YFQ-42A Prepares for Flight Testing in Summer 2025
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) recently announced that its test vehicle for the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, officially designated the YFQ-42A, has entered ground testing. The ‘fighter drone’ is slated to take flight this summer.
The Air Force selected GA-ASI in 2024 to develop the aircraft, making it part of an ongoing effort to integrate uncrewed systems into future combat operations. It earned the name YFQ-42A in March 2025. If the aircraft moves beyond the production-representative test aircraft phase, the “Y” will be dropped from its title.
“The YFQ-42A is an exciting next step for our company,” stated GA-ASI President David Alexander. “It reflects many years of partnership with the U.S. Air Force of advancing unmanned combat aviation for the United States and its allies around the world, and we’re excited to begin ground testing and move to first flight.”
GA-ASI has a history of building uncrewed aircraft, including the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and MQ-20 Avenger. The YFQ-42A ‘fighter drone’ is the latest in this line, following the company’s previous XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, which was another step in the Air Force’s broader CCA program.
The YFQ-42A is expected to be a lower-cost way to increase force numbers while integrating with existing and future piloted aircraft. Will it perform up to standard in actual operations? Well, that remains to be seen… but ground testing is a step in the right direction.
The other CCA program prototype, the YFQ-44A, has also entered ground testing with the Air Force. The YFQ-44A is currently in development under Anduril Industries as an adaptation of their “Fury” aggressor drone and shares some broad features with its GA-ASI sister.
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