GA-ASI, USAF start YFQ-42A CCA flight testing

California-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has begun flight-testing its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), in coordination with the US Air Force (USAF). This continues the company’s rapid creation of new, jet-powered uncrewed platforms chartered by the USAF to achieve air dominance while being designed for rapid production, in large quantities, at an affordable price, the company says.

“What a great moment for the U.S. Air Force and for GA-ASI,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “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.”

GA-ASI says the YFQ-42A is focused on air-to-air semi-autonomous operation and based on the genus-species concept pioneered on the XQ-67A  Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS). Using model-based digital engineering, The company says it was able to accelerate its schedule while optimizing air dominance capabilities.

YFQ-42’s autonomy core has been trained across more than five years of flight-testing using GA-ASI’s jet-powered MQ-20 Avenger, an aircraft no other company has, GA-ASI adds. The integrated capabilities of a stealthy, air-to-air-focused uncrewed jet, combined with a learned AI autonomy core, are designed to provide warfighters with a definitive advantage in the future fight, says the company.

The GA-ASI program has focused on creating a high-rate production environment that enables USAF to reach its goal of producing more than 1,000 CCAs on an accelerated timeline. The USAF selected GA-ASI in April 2024 to build and fly a fully production-representative CCA and ground testing of the YFQ-42A began in May.