Overview
- The YFQ-44A flew on Oct. 31, 2025, an event confirmed by the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
- With Anduril now flying, General Atomics’ YFQ-42A first flew in August, placing both Increment 1 aircraft in active flight testing.
- The YFQ-44A flown is described as a production‑representative test vehicle, with modifications focused on flight‑test instrumentation.
- CCAs are being developed to team with NGAD, F‑35s and F‑15EX aircraft for sensing, coordinated maneuvers and potential combat roles.
- The Air Force targets a competitive Increment 1 production decision in FY2026, plans Increment 2 development that year, and is planning over 150 fielded in the next five years toward a fleet sized in the hundreds to about 1,000 with modular, open‑architecture payloads.