America’s First Unmanned Fighters Are Here: YFQ-42 and YFQ-44
March 3, 2025 | By Chris Gordon
AURORA, Colo.—The Air Force’s first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft are fighters, the first uncrewed aircraft to carry such a designation, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced in a keynote address at the AFA Warfare Symposium on March 3.
General Atomics’ CCA will be called the YFQ–42A and Anduril Industries’ CCA will be dubbed the YFQ–44A.
Under Air Force naming conventions, Y designates prototype, F means fighter, and Q means unmanned. Once a prototype moves into production, the Air Force would drop the Y from the prefix.
The chief said the unveiling represented far more than a name.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/americas-first-unmanned-fighters-yfq-42-yfq-44/
