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The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. YFQ-42A takes off for the first time, Aug. 27, 2025.
Flight testing for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) began Aug. 27, with the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. YFQ-42A taking off for the first time.
The company, in an announcement after the close of business, confirmed the aircraft conducted flight testing in coordination with the U.S. Air Force.
“What a great moment for the U.S. Air Force and for GA-ASI,” says David Alexander, president of GA-ASI. “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.”
The flight comes 18 months after GA-ASI and Anduril received awards to build prototypes as part of the Air Force’s first increment of the CCA program.
The Air Force only said the flight took place at a “California test location,” and provided data to continue evaluations of the platform’s airworthiness, flight autonomy and mission system integration.
“This milestone showcases what’s possible when innovative acquisition meets motivated industry,” Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force, said in a statement. “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.”
GA-ASI had a head start in many ways over rival Anduril, with its mature YFQ-42A based on the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station that flew in 2024.
Anduril indicates flight testing for its CCA, YFQ-44A, will begin soon. “Flight test is one of those milestones that you just can’t help but get excited about, no matter where you sit,” Jason Levin, Anduril’s senior vice president of engineering, air dominance and strike, said in a statement.
He offered congratulations to General Atomics and the U.S. Air Force, calling flight testing for the YFQ-42A “a major milestone on the path to fielding Increment 1 CCAs by the end of the decade.”
The Air Force will conduct vendor-led developmental testing and independent evaluations at Edwards AFB, California, along with operational assessments at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The service has also picked Beale AFB, California, to be its first aircraft readiness unit for CCAs.
A competitive production decision for the first increment is expected in fiscal 2026. The service is also developing requirements for the second increment, with a selection expected in 2026.
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