GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A Dark Merlin is one of several candidates to be the first U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). [Credit: GA-ASI]
Key Takeaways:
An experimental autonomous "loyal wingman" aircraft, the General Atomics YFQ-42A Dark Merlin, crashed during testing in the California desert.
The drone was being developed for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to integrate uncrewed aircraft with crewed fighter jets.
Although there were no injuries, flight testing for the Dark Merlin is temporarily paused, potentially affecting GA-ASI's competitive bid for CCA production contracts.
The CCA program is a multi-billion dollar initiative with several companies competing to provide drones that would complement fighter jets on risky missions.
An experimental aircraft developed to serve as an autonomous “loyal wingman” for next-generation U.S. Air Force fighter jets crashed in the California desert on Monday.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI)—the manufacturer of the YFQ-42A Dark Merlin in question—said Monday that the aircraft “experienced a mishap” after taking off from a company-owned airport.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
