General Atomics uncrewed jet fighter designated as YFQ-42A

The US Air Force selected YFQ-42A as the mission design series for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototype, representing the first in a new generation of uncrewed fighter aircraft.

The US Air Force is developing autonomous collaborative platforms to maintain its air superiority. Semi-autonomous aircraft, like YFQ-42A, will enhance flexibility, affordability and mission effectiveness. YFQ-42A will enhance air superiority as a flexible, affordable force multiplier.

YFQ-42A is expected to be critical in securing air dominance for the Joint Force in future conflicts, leveraging autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested environments.

“We’re proud to get a new official aircraft designation,” GA-ASI president David R Alexander said.

“YFQ-42A continues a long and distinguished history for GA-ASI that dates back to the 1990s and the debut of the RQ-1 Predator, which later changed to MQ-1 Predator.

“These (MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-20 Avenger, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian) aircraft represent an unrivalled history of capable, dependable uncrewed platforms that meet the needs of America’s warfighters and point the way to a significant new era for airpower.”

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The aircraft is designed to integrate seamlessly with current and next-generation crewed aircraft, expanding mission capabilities and ensuring continued air dominance. In addition, the fighter capacity is expected to be mass produced at lower cost and on a threat-relevant timeline.

The YFQ-42A designation follows the Air Force’s decision to designate GA-ASI’s highly common predecessor aircraft as the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station. The XQ-67A was ordered by the Air Force Research Lab to support the development of concepts necessary to implement the vision for CCA.