Role & capabilities
- Collaborative mission autonomy
- Integration with crewed aviation
- USAF CCA Increment 1
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Collaborative aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- Origin / production countries
- United States
- Other names
- YFQ-42A
- Variants / configurations
- CCA Increment 1 FQ-42
- Operators / programme customers
- US Air Force — CCA programme customer
Evidence & current status
The cited order or production decision is distinct from delivery, operational acceptance and the eventual fleet size.
Role & programme
One of the US Air Force’s two Increment 1 collaborative combat aircraft. The FQ-42 brings General Atomics into a jet-powered teaming programme alongside its established remotely piloted aircraft business.
The September 2026 Air Force naming update replaces earlier experimental YFQ-42A terminology. A combined production increment with FQ-44 is not a delivered FQ-42 fleet count. Endurance, payload and detailed sensor fits remain public data gaps in the cited programme releases.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe | Fixed-wing collaborative combat aircraft | Broad aircraft class established in the linked programme account; detailed performance remains undisclosed here. Source |
| Launch / recovery | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Propulsion | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Dimensions | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Mass | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Endurance | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Range | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Speed | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Altitude | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Payload | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Sensors | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
| Communications / navigation | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source |
Publication history
- — Expanded catalogue profile with sourced specifications, variant distinctions, programme evidence and explicit public data gaps.
Suggest a correction to this entry
Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.