Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 3 hrs ago
GA-ASI partners with Spirit Defense to produce FQ-42 uncrewed fighter
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has partnered with Spirit Defense to support production of a new US uncrewed fighter.
The aircraft, called the FQ-42 Vengeance, is being developed with the US Air Force as part of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
It is designed to fly without a pilot and use a modular design to take on different missions.
Its software is intended to let people and aircraft work together in complex combat situations.
The Air Force selected GA-ASI to build test aircraft in 2024, and a related aircraft, the YFQ-42A, made its first flight in August 2025.
The partnership adds manufacturing capacity and is intended to reduce reliance on a single producer.
Airframe production is expected to begin soon, but no start date was given.
GA-ASI has partnered with Spirit Defense to support airframe production of the FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
The partnership is intended to add manufacturing capacity and strengthen production resilience as the U.S. Air Force ramps up its CCA program.
The FQ-42 is an uncrewed fighter developed with the U.S. Air Force as part of investment in next-generation semi-autonomous combat aircraft.
Its modular design is intended to enable rapid integration of mission systems and autonomy software.
GA-ASI said its software architecture provides a foundation for human-machine teaming in complex combat scenarios.
- Who
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Spirit Defense, a Boeing company.
- What
- They partnered to support airframe production of the FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
- When
- The partnership was announced in an article published October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The partnership is intended to add production capacity and resilience for the U.S. Air Force’s CCA ramp-up.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
GA-ASI was established and has since been the sole manufacturer of its line of uncrewed aircraft systems.
GA-ASI was selected by the U.S. Air Force to build production-representative flight test articles for the CCA program.
The YFQ-42A conducted its maiden flight.
GA-ASI’s partnership with Spirit Defense to support FQ-42 airframe production was reported.
- Aircraft
- FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft
- Partners
- GA-ASI and Spirit Defense, a Boeing company
- U.S. Air Force selection
- GA-ASI was selected in 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles
- Maiden flight
- YFQ-42A flew in August 2025
- GA-ASI established
- 1992
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What people are saying
We’ve established our proven design, development, and manufacturing capability for the FQ-42. With Spirit Defense we add capacity, which is exactly the kind of production resilience our U.S. Air Force customer is looking for with its CCA ramp-up.
We’re proud to bring deep manufacturing expertise and proven capabilities to this important program.