The U.S. Air Force announced it has conducted the first test flight of a prototype drone fighter jet.
“The aircraft, designated YFQ-42A and developed in partnership with General Atomics, flew at a California test location contributing valuable data to continued evaluations of platform airworthiness, flight autonomy, and mission system integration,” the service said in an Aug. 27 press statement.
Earlier this year, the Air Force announced it had provided the first-ever prototype fighter designations to two different unmanned aerial vehicles, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril Industries YFQ-44A.
The Air Force is evaluating both jet-powered drones for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which seeks to pair manned and unmanned fighter aircraft.
General Atomics’ entry into the CCA program appears to be the first to have undergone a test flight.
“This milestone showcases what’s possible when innovative acquisition meets motivated industry,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said of the flight test.
“In record time, CCA went from concept to flight—proving we can deliver combat capability at speed when we clear barriers and align around the warfighter.”
Meink said this flight test comes just 16 months after granting General Atomics an initial contract for its CCA program entry.
The Air Force published footage and still imagery showing the YFQ-42A lifting off from a runway at an unspecified test location in California.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said the CCA program will “help us rethink the battlespace, extend reach, flexibility, and lethality in combat operations, and optimize warfighter performance through human-machine teaming.”
David Alexander, president of General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc., congratulated both the Air Force personnel and the General Atomics employees who have helped along the development process.
“It’s been our collaboration that enabled us to build and fly the YFQ-42A in just over a year. It’s an incredible achievement and I salute the Air Force for its vision and I salute our development team for delivering yet another historic first for our company,” Alexander said in a Thursday press statement.
Anduril Industries also extended congratulations to their ostensible competitor following the news of the successful flight test.
“This is a major milestone on the path toward fielding Increment 1 CCAs by the end of the decade,” Anduril Industries said in an Aug. 27 X post.
The Air Force plans to award a production contract sometime in fiscal year 2026.
Unmanned aircraft developed under the CCA program are intended to pair with fifth-generation fighter jets such as the F-22 and F-35, and future sixth-generation fighter jets.
In March, President Donald Trump announced the Air Force had granted Boeing the contract to build a sixth-generation fighter jet, designated the F-47.
