CCA prototype built by GA-ASI flies for the first time

General Atomics' YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype flew for the first time today, the Air Force announced, inching the service closer to teaming its manned platforms with fighter drones.

“This milestone showcases what’s possible when innovative acquisition meets motivated industry,” service Secretary Troy Meink 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.”

The flight took off from a California test location, the Air Force and GA-ASI said in a press release. Flight testing “will begin soon” for the other production-representative prototype being built concurrently by Anduril Industries, called the YFQ-44A, according to an Anduril spokesperson.

“What a great moment for the U.S. Air Force and for GA-ASI,” GA-ASI president David Alexander said in a statement. “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 Air Force selected GA-ASI and Anduril in April 2024 for continued funding to develop their CCA airframe designs for the earliest increment of the drones, beating out defense primes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing in the contest.

Anduril’s YFQ-44A is based off the company’s Fury design, and GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A is based off that company’s Gambit family of systems.

The service has said it may choose one or both options to produce the first autonomous fighters. Other businesses are also eligible to compete prototypes for this production award on their own dime, and a decision is planned for fiscal year 2026.

The first CCA increment is being envisioned as missile trucks that would accompany manned aircraft like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, B-21 Raider and F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance platform into battle in sizable groups, officials have said.

Both prototypes began ground testing in May, and an Experimental Operations Unit to test and evaluate the first and future CCA increments stood up in June at Nellis Air Force Base, NV.