General Atomics has delivered its first FQ-42 Vengeance fighter drone to a US Air Force test unit under the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
The aircraft arrived at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada on September 18 and will operate with the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit. General Atomics said the FQ-42 will be used for regular test and evaluation activities and experimentation with the new aircraft.
Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Creech already hosted FQ-42 prototypes during an Agile Combat Employment exercise in July. The US Air Force used both the General Atomics aircraft and Anduril’s FQ-44 Fury during the event to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for the new class of uncrewed combat aircraft.
The latest delivery differs from those earlier activities because the aircraft has now been formally handed over by General Atomics to the test unit. The FQ-42 made its first flight in August 2025, and the company received an initial production contract from the US Air Force in June 2026.
Production capacity reaches six aircraft per month
General Atomics has already started production of the FQ-42 with its own funds while US government funding plans mature. The company also completed a new low-observable paint facility and says it has capacity to deliver six aircraft per month, with additional manufacturing space available if orders increase.
The manufacturer also plans to build several FQ-42s for its own test fleet. These aircraft will support development of new systems, weapons and autonomy software independently of the aircraft delivered to the US Air Force.
The FQ-42 and FQ-44 are competing designs under Increment 1 of the CCA program. The US Air Force plans to use the autonomous aircraft alongside crewed fighters, with missions expected to include air-to-air combat and other roles that can extend the capabilities of aircraft such as the F-35 fighter jet.
Both CCA designs are scheduled to participate in Emerald Flag in December. The exercise will be the first large-force employment event for the new aircraft and will put them into a broader combat scenario with other US Air Force assets.
