The Air Force’s Future Wingman Takes Flight

On August 27, 2025, the General Atomics YFQ-42A — one of the service’s prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) — completed its first flight at a California test site. The milestone marks the beginning of flight testing for a program designed to reshape how the Air Force fights.

A Major Milestone

The YFQ-42A flew just 18 months after General Atomics and Anduril were awarded contracts to build competing prototypes. David Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, called the flight a “great moment” and praised the rapid collaboration that delivered a flying aircraft in barely over a year.

A New Kind of Force Multiplier

The CCA program aims to field a fleet of at least 1,000 autonomous drones designed to fly alongside manned fighters like the F-35 and the future Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform. These “loyal wingmen” will extend range, provide strike capabilities, conduct reconnaissance, perform electronic warfare, and even serve as decoys to absorb enemy fire.

General Atomics’ YFQ-42A builds on its XQ-67A test aircraft that first flew in 2024, giving it a head start over rival Anduril’s YFQ-44A, which is expected to begin testing soon. Both aircraft will undergo developmental and operational testing at Edwards and Nellis Air Force Bases, with Beale AFB chosen as the first readiness unit.

Looking Ahead

The Air Force expects to decide between the General Atomics and Anduril designs in fiscal 2026. Whichever design moves forward, the CCA program represents a radical shift in airpower strategy — pairing human pilots with autonomous partners that can take on high-risk missions and expand the Air Force’s combat reach.

The YFQ-42A’s first flight may be just a test, but it signals a future where America’s fighter pilots won’t fly alone.