General Atomics Flies Second CCA, Announces New Ground-Attack Drone  

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has flown a second YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, stepping up the pace of testing for the new uncrewed fighter escort. The company also announced “Gambit 6,” a fresh variant in its CCA family meant for air-to-ground missions. 

The revelation of the second YFQ-42A flight was included in a Nov. 3 press release noting the company’s participation in an upcoming fighter conference. Included in the release was a photo of two CCAs on the flightline and an image of one in flight. The markings and numbering on the aircraft flying in the new images are different from those shown on the first YFQ-42A to fly, which occurred in August.

No date of the second aircraft’s first flight was released. The revelation comes just a few days after Anduril Industries achieved the first flight of its CCA, the YFQ-44A.

The two milestones indicate the accelerating pace of the CCA program, which is intended to provide the Air Force with “affordable mass” in future conflicts. This first “increment” of aircraft are intended to carry extra air-to-air munitions that crewed fighters like the F-22 and F-35 can launch remotely, thus expanding the number of shots they can make against adversaries on a single sortie. The Air Force plans to award at least one production contract for Increment 1 CCAs next year; the service has not ruled out production contracts to both competitors. Initial work on Increment 2, expected to be a different aircraft with different requirements that have not yet been revealed, is also intended to get underway in 2026.

The two CCA efforts are pioneering an accelerated acquisition approach that has produced two production-representative types by two companies in less than two years.

A General Atomics spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Air Force restricts what can be said about the CCA flight test program, and that he can’t discuss any details. He acknowledged only that the second airplane has flown, and said it demonstrates the company’s ability to produce aircraft rapidly that are “ready to fly.”

The press release noted that “flight operations continue today across the growing fleet.” It asserted GA’s “continued dominance in UAS development and delivery while meeting anticipated timelines.”

David Alexander, president of GA’s Aeronautical Systems, said “the fleet is in production and in the air today.” He added, “This isn’t a ‘wait and see’ moment. We’re flying. We’re delivering. And we’re advancing this future of combat aviation, the same way we have for more than three decades.”

The company will display a full-scale model of its YQF-42A at the International Fighter Conference in Rome from Nov. 4-6. This same model has been displayed at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Gambit 6

In a separate release, the company also revealed its “Gambit 6,” a CCA concept “that adds air-to-ground operations to its already-proven air-to-air capability.”

GA has been promoting its “Gambit” series of aircraft as a modular and affordable approach to CCAs. The concept involves modular airframes that can all fit a common “chassis” that includes a common engine, landing gear, and processors.

Gambits 1-5 are optimized for, in order:

long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
air-to-air combat
adversary training work
Naval, shipborne operations

Gambit 6 is a “multirole platform optimized for roles such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and deep precision strike, making it a versatile option for evolving defense needs,” the company said in its release.

Alexander said the “modular architecture and signature-reducing internal weapons bay of Gambit 6 allow for easy integration of advanced autonomy, sensors, and weapons systems, ensuring the aircraft can adapt to a wide range of operational scenarios.”

The company said Gambit 6 “will be available for international procurement starting in 2027, with European missionized versions deliverable in 2029.” It added that GA “is building industry partnerships throughout Europe with the aim of providing sovereign capabilities for all its platforms.”

The YFQ-42A is a “derivative … based off the original Gambit 2 concept,” the company said. The series is intended to “offer tailored capabilities that enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve survivability in contested environments.”  

The Gambit concept was announced in 2022; Nos 1-3 bear a broad similarity, but Gambit 4 is a tailless flying wing for stealthy operations.  The company said the concept could pave the way for the U.S., partners, and allies “to quickly evolve global air forces for the future fight.”