California, August 28 - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) marked a significant milestone in the evolution of air combat by initiating flight testing of its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in coordination with the U.S. Air Force. This achievement positions the YFQ-42A as the first of the Air Force’s new uncrewed fighter aircraft to take to the skies, a testament to the rapid development timeline of just over a year since the program’s inception. The YFQ-42A, designed for semi-autonomous air-to-air operations, is a key component of the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, intended to complement manned fighters like the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and the future F-47. Its development reflects a strategic shift toward integrating advanced unmanned systems into combat operations, leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance air superiority in contested environments. The aircraft’s first flight, conducted at a California test location, evaluated platform airworthiness, flight autonomy, and mission system integration, setting the stage for further testing and eventual production decisions expected in fiscal year 2026.
CCA is in the air less than two years after the program began! Your @usairforce is moving FAST & learning FAST. CCA will help us rethink the battlespace, extend reach & optimize warfighter performance through human-machine teaming. @GenAtomics_ASI https://t.co/oGP8ZTW4oz pic.twitter.com/JJ0zlwuVbs
— General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) August 27, 2025
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The YFQ-42A’s design draws heavily on General Atomics’ prior work with the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS), utilizing a “genus-species” approach that employs a common chassis for multiple drone variants. This modular design, incorporating shared components like landing gear, flight controls, and mission computing hardware, enables scalability and cost efficiency, aligning with the Air Force’s goal of fielding over 1,000 CCAs. The YFQ-42A features a stealth-informed configuration with a streamlined fuselage, a dorsal-mounted air intake with serrated edges reminiscent of the B-2 Spirit, and twin canted V-tails to reduce radar cross-section. Its internal weapons bay is designed to carry air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, allowing it to engage enemy aircraft while maintaining a low observable profile. The aircraft’s autonomy core, refined over five years of testing on the MQ-20 Avenger, enables it to perform complex missions alongside manned platforms, including target designation and coordinated maneuvers, enhancing the lethality and flexibility of joint operations.
Ground testing for the YFQ-42A began in May 2025 at GA-ASI’s facility in Poway, California, following the Air Force’s April 2024 decision to select General Atomics as one of two contractors, alongside Anduril Industries, for the CCA program’s Increment 1. These tests assessed structural integrity, propulsion performance, avionics reliability, and autonomous system behavior, laying the groundwork for the successful first flight. The YFQ-42A’s designation, with “Y” indicating a production-representative test vehicle, “F” for fighter, and “Q” for uncrewed, underscores its role as a pioneering unmanned fighter aircraft. Unlike traditional drones, the YFQ-42A is built for high-end combat, capable of operating in contested environments and taking on high-risk missions such as penetrating defended airspace or acting as a decoy. Its trailing-arm landing gear supports operations from austere airfields, aligning with the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy, which emphasizes rapid, distributed deployments to counter evolving threats.
The rapid progression of the YFQ-42A from concept to flight in less than two years highlights the Air Force’s innovative acquisition approach and General Atomics’ advanced model-based digital engineering. This milestone is part of a broader, multi-faceted learning campaign, including vendor-led developmental testing, independent evaluations at Edwards Air Force Base, and Nellis Air Force Base operational assessments. The Air Force aims to field a diverse fleet of CCAs, with the YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A as the first iterations, to enhance combat capabilities through human-machine teaming. The program’s open-system architecture allows for rapid upgrades, ensuring the aircraft can integrate emerging technologies to maintain an edge in future conflicts. With plans to deploy over 150 CCAs in the next five years, the YFQ-42A’s successful flight testing signals a transformative shift in airpower, where affordable, scalable, and autonomous systems will play a critical role in achieving air dominance.