YFQ-42A

The United States Air Force's prototype uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft — a semi-autonomous loyal wingman built by General Atomics, intended to fly alongside crewed fighters as the first operational CCA Increment 1 type.

Overview

The YFQ-42A “Dark Merlin” is a fighter-class, uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 programme. Designed from the outset as a production-representative loyal wingman, it is intended to operate in manned-unmanned teams with F-22, F-35 and the future Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, executing air-to-air and strike missions under the direction of a crewed pilot. The aircraft is one of two prototypes selected in April 2024 for a competitive production decision due before the end of fiscal year 2026.

Development

The YFQ-42A traces its lineage to the company’s XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS), a flying prototype developed in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory that first flew in March 2024 and served as a direct surrogate for the CCA architecture The War Zone. In April 2024 the USAF awarded GA-ASI and Anduril Industries prototype contracts for Increment 1, each with the goal of fielding a production-ready design within roughly two years The War Zone. GA-ASI flew the first YFQ-42A on 27 August 2025—the first CCA first flight for the Air Force—and announced the official nickname “Dark Merlin” in February 2026 GA-ASI. Low-rate initial production of multiple airframes is underway.

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