"The YFQ‑42A, a prototype under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program developed by the U.S. Air Force alongside General Atomics, completed its first flight in August 2025, marking a rapid advancement from concept to airborne testing in under two years. Designed as an affordable, modular, semi-autonomous aircraft meant to operate alongside fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, it is part of a broader push to deliver networked airpower and human-machine teaming more quickly. The program uses vendor-led testing, open-system architectures, and operational assessments at Edwards and Nellis Air Force Bases, with an Increment 1 production decision expected in fiscal year 2026."
"Each country varies in the type of aircraft it focuses its resources on, which can give insight into a nation's military goals. To identify the 25 military aircraft that are most widely used, 24/7 Wall St. referenced the report 2024 World Air Forces from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website. We ranked each aircraft by the number of units in service in the 163 countries reporting to FlightGlobal."
The YFQ-42A prototype achieved its first flight in August 2025, reaching airborne testing less than two years after concept. The design emphasizes affordability, modularity, and semi-autonomy to operate alongside fifth- and sixth-generation fighters and to advance human-machine teaming and networked airpower. The program employs vendor-led testing, open-system architectures, and operational assessments at Edwards and Nellis Air Force Bases, with an Increment 1 production decision expected in fiscal year 2026. A separate assessment ranked the 25 most widely used military aircraft worldwide using FlightGlobal's 2024 World Air Forces data from 163 reporting countries, noting that fighters and helicopters dominate global fleets.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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