YFQ-42A uncrewed test aircraft enters ground testing phase at General Atomics
NewsMay 20, 2025
SAN DIEGO, California. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has begun ground testing of its YFQ-42A test vehicle for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the company announced in a statement.
Ground testing of the production-representative uncrewed jet began on May 7, with first flight planned for later this summer, the statement reads. The YFQ-42A is GA-ASI’s third jet-powered uncrewed system, following the MQ-20 Avenger and the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS).
The MQ-20, which first flew in 2009, is currently used for autonomy testing and artificial intelligence/machine learning integration, while the OBSS jet is part of a platform-sharing initiative with the Air Force Research Laboratory designed to support multiple mission profiles, the company says.
The YFQ-42A continues GA-ASI’s work toward modular, scalable uncrewed platforms for future air combat teaming, the statement adds.
