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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has entered the ground testing phase for its YFQ-42A production-representative test vehicle, a key development in the United States Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Ground testing on the YFQ-42A production-representative test vehicle commenced on 7 May, with the aircraft’s first flight anticipated later this northern hemisphere summer.
“The YFQ-42A is an exciting next step for our company,” said General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) president David R Alexander.
“It represents years of collaboration with the US Air Force in advancing uncrewed combat aviation capabilities for the United States and its allies. We’re proud to begin ground testing and prepare for its first flight.”
The YFQ-42A marks the third jet-powered uncrewed aircraft developed by GA-ASI. The company’s MQ-20 Avenger, which first flew in 2009, has logged over 40,000 flight hours and currently serves as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) surrogate platform for autonomy research and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The company’s most recent aircraft, the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS), achieved its maiden flight earlier in 2024. The XQ-67A is the product of years of collaboration with the US Air Force Research Laboratory and features a modular “genus” chassis capable of being rapidly adapted for various missions and aircraft types. The platform-sharing model, inspired by automotive industry practices, is designed to reduce costs and accelerate production.
A global leader in uncrewed aviation technology, GA-ASI has developed more than 24 different aircraft types and delivered over 1,200 airframes to customers worldwide. The company produces more than 100 aircraft annually from its 465,000-square-metre manufacturing facility in Poway, California.
Collectively, GA-ASI aircraft have amassed close to 9 million flight hours globally, with more than 50 of the company’s aircraft airborne at any given moment.
GA-ASI is the world’s leading manufacturer of uncrewed aircraft systems. With more than 8 million flight hours logged, GA-ASI’s Predator series has been in service for over three decades. Its portfolio includes the MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M, MQ-20 Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian.
The company specialises in long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid-response strike capability.
