US Air Force begins production of FQ-42 and FQ-44 combat drones

The United States Air Force has entered the production phase for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, aiming to deploy 150 unmanned platforms as an initial step toward a long-term goal of 1,000 aircraft by 2032.

The program features two distinct models: the FQ-42 Vengeance, manufactured by General Atomics, and the FQ-44 Fury, produced by Anduril. These semi-autonomous drones are designed to operate alongside manned fourth and fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-16, F-22, and F-35, to extend sensor range and combat capabilities without increasing pilot risk.

A large-scale integration test, known as Exercise Emerald Flag, is scheduled for December 2026 at Eglin Air Force Base. This exercise will test how these drones coordinate with manned aircraft to detect, track, and attack threats within a complete combat chain, moving beyond isolated autonomy demonstrations to realistic offensive mission scenarios.