A new era: US grants fighter jet designation to drones for the first time

The US Air Force has officially named the combat drones developed by General Atomics and Anduril Industries YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A. This was announced by General David W. Alvin during the Air Force Association's 2025 Military Symposium in Aurora, Colorado.

Here's What We Know

The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, developed under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, are the first to receive the official fighter designation. The letter "Y" stands for prototype, "F" for fighter, and "Q" for unmanned.

They are designed to fly air-to-air missions in conjunction with manned aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II. They will function as autonomous support for fighters, providing additional firepower, expanding sensor coverage and performing missions without risk to the flight crew.

The F-35 fighter jet. Illustration: Lockheed Martin

The drones are also expected to have electronic warfare, reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. They will be part of the US Air Force's strategy to integrate manned and unmanned platforms to ensure air superiority.

The YFQ-42A is developed by General Atomics, while the YFQ-44A, formerly known as Fury, is designed by Anduril Industries. The US Air Force plans to acquire between 100 and 150 drones in the first phase of the CCA programme, with a long-term goal of more than 1,000 units.

The next stage will be flight tests, which are due to start this summer. They will help assess the effectiveness of the drones in real-world combat conditions and their integration with existing platforms.

Source: Army Recognition