General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance to U.S. Air Force

General Atomics has delivered a new FQ-42 Vengeance uncrewed combat aircraft to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. This delivery is part of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which focuses on testing human-machine teaming and the ability of semi-autonomous aircraft to operate alongside crewed fighters like the F-35 and F-22 Raptor.

The FQ-42 Vengeance is a low-observable aircraft featuring an internal weapons bay and modular systems designed for air-to-air missions. General Atomics has indicated that production is already underway and the company has the capacity to deliver up to six aircraft per month to meet Air Force requirements.

Other aircraft involved in these collaborative testing efforts include the YFQ-44A Fury, developed by Anduril. These uncrewed platforms are intended to extend the reach of manned fighters, carry weapons, and increase survivability in contested airspace while costing significantly less than traditional manned platforms.