The General Atomics YFQ-42 Dark Merlin is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) currently under development by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The aircraft is one of the winning designs for Increment I of the United States Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and is intended to augment crewed fighter aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning, and the planned Boeing F-47 fighter for air-to-air missions through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).[2]
| YFQ-42 Dark Merlin | |
|---|---|
 General Atomics YFQ-42 in a ground test facility | |
| General information | |
| Type | |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems |
| Status | Under development |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | At least 3[1] |
| History | |
| First flight | 27 August 2025 |
| Developed from | General Atomics XQ-67A |
Development and design
editThe YFQ-42 is a member of General Atomics "Gambit" family of UCAVs and derived from the company's XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station demonstrator built for the Air Force Research Laboratory.[3][4] The design was selected as one of the two winners of the Increment I CCA alongside the Anduril YFQ-44.[5]
A mockup of the design was showcased during a September 2024 Air Force conference; the aircraft's configuration is similar to the XQ-67A but modified for greater speeds and fighter-like maneuverability, with the airframe having an elongated fuselage with slender wings, a dorsal-mounted inlet, a single engine, V-tails, and internal weapons bay. Planned armament is two AIM-120 AMRAAMs.[6][7] The design is expected to provide the USAF with "affordable mass" to augment its crewed fighters in air-to-air missions. Its low cost nature, while not attritable, enables users and commanders to take greater risks with them.[8]
The aircraft received its formal designation during the 2025 Air & Space Forces Association symposium. On 27 August 2025, the United States Air Force and General Atomics announced the YFQ-42A had begun its flight testing.[9]
On 23 February 2026, in a statement from General Atomics, the YFQ-42 was named "Dark Merlin", named after a type of falcon.[2][10]
Flight Test Mishap
editOn 6 April 2026 a YFQ-42A crashed during a mishap shortly after takeoff, resulting in the total loss[11] of an aircraft and causing delays in flight testing activities.[12][13] Flight testing resumed on 21 May 2026.[11]
The cause was determined to be an autopilot miscalculation of the aircraft weight & center of gravity.[11]
See also
editRelated development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
edit- ↑ "GA-ASI Achieves New Milestone With Semi-Autonomous CCA Flight". General Atomics. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- 1 2 Rogoway, Tyler (23 February 2026). "Dark Merlin Is The Name Of General Atomics' YFQ-42A Fighter Drone". The War Zone.
- ↑ Decker, Audrey (23 September 2024). "Dueling robot wingmen take the stage". Defense One.
- ↑ Insinna, Valerie (25 July 2024). "General Atomics could fly first CCA prototype in mid-2025: Aeronautics president". Breaking Defense.
- ↑ Tirpak, John (25 April 2024). "Anduril and General Atomics to Develop New Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Air Force". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ↑ Insinna, Valerie (10 September 2024). "Anduril, General Atomics to showcase drone wingmen models at Air Force conference next week". Breaking Defense.
- ↑ D'Urso, Stefano (17 September 2024). "Anduril And General Atomics Showcase Collaborative Combat Aircraft Mockups". The Aviationist.
- ↑ Finnerty, Ryan (19 September 2024). "USAF's first autonomous combat jets will act as air-to-air 'missile trucks' for crewed fighters". FlightGlobal.
- ↑ "Collaborative Combat Aircraft, YFQ-42A takes to the air for flight testing". 27 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ↑ "GA-ASI Announces YFQ-42A Dark Merlin". General Atomics. 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "YFQ-42A Returns to Flight Testing". General Atomics. 6 April 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Statement on YFQ-42A Flight Incident". General Atomics. 6 April 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California". 6 April 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.