GA-ASI Unveils YFQ-42A Dark Merlin for USAF CCA Program

This article is based on an official press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and summarizes public program updates.

GA-ASI Designates CCA Contender as YFQ-42A Dark Merlin

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has officially unveiled the designation for its entrant in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program: the YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. The announcement, made on February 23, 2026, solidifies the identity of the semi-autonomous drones designed to serve as a “loyal wingman” for manned fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and the future Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform.

According to the company’s press release, the name “Dark Merlin” was chosen to reflect the aircraft’s aggressive air-to-air combat role. The moniker references a specific subspecies of falcon known for its dark plumage and predatory behavior toward other falcons, a direct metaphor for the drone’s intended function of neutralizing enemy aerial threats.

The YFQ-42A represents a significant step in the Air Force’s strategy to field affordable, autonomous mass. By utilizing a common chassis derived from GA-ASI’s “Gambit” series, the manufacturers aims to deliver high-performance capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional manned fighters.

Design and Capabilities

The YFQ-42A Dark Merlin is distinguished by its focus on stealth and survivability in contested airspace. Unlike some competitors that rely on external weapons carriage, the Dark Merlin features an internal weapons bay. This design choice reduces radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag, allowing the aircraft to operate more effectively in high-threat environments.

David R. Alexander, President of GA-ASI, emphasized the predatory nature of the design in a statement regarding the naming convention:

Dark merlins are hunting machines, built for speed and aerodynamics. They harass other falcons for fun, and they eat what they kill. The name sums up our new uncrewed fighter perfectly.

The “Genus/Species” Manufacturing Approach

GA-ASI has highlighted that the Dark Merlin shares a common core with the XQ-67A, another sensing station variant. This manufacturing philosophy, described as a “genus/species” approach, allows different aircraft variants to be built from a shared “genus” or chassis. This modularity is intended to accelerate production timelines and reduce unit costs, a critical requirement for the CCA program.

Strategic Context: The CCA Program

The U.S. Air-Forces’ CCA program aims to acquire at least 1,000 autonomous aircraft to act as force multipliers. These drones will operate in “packs” controlled by a single human pilot, extending the sensing and striking range of the manned formation.

According to program updates and industry analysis, the Air Force has set a unit cost target of approximately $25 to $30 million. However, GA-ASI has publicly stated an ambition to deliver the Dark Merlin for “far less than $20 million,” positioning cost efficiency as a primary competitive advantage.

Timeline and Milestones

Development of the YFQ-42A has proceeded rapidly. Key milestones reported by industry sources include:

• August 2025: The aircraft completed its first successful Test-Flights.
• February 2026: The platform conducted its first flight utilizing full mission autonomy software.
• FY 2026: The Air Force is expected to make a production decision for Increment 1 of the CCA program.

Competitive Landscape

The Dark Merlin is competing directly against Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A “Fury” for the Air Force production contract. The two platforms represent diverging design philosophies within the CCA requirements.

While GA-ASI has prioritized stealth via an internal weapons bay, reports indicate that the Anduril entrant utilizes external hardpoints for weapons carriage. This distinction suggests a trade-off between maximum survivability (Dark Merlin) and potentially lower complexity or different payload configurations (Fury). Both companies are vying for a production decision expected later in 2026, with the Air Force potentially awarding contracts to one or both vendors depending on budget and strategic needs.

AirPro News Analysis

The designation “YFQ-42A” offers insight into the aircraft’s current status and future role. In U.S. military nomenclature, the “Y” prefix denotes a prototype, while “F” stands for Fighter and “Q” indicates an uncrewed system. Should the aircraft enter full production, it would likely be redesignated as the FQ-42A.

Furthermore, the selection of the Dark Merlin by the U.S. Marine Corps for evaluation in their MUX TACAIR program suggests that the platform’s utility may extend beyond the Air Force. If successful, this cross-service adoption could significantly increase production volume, further driving down unit costs through economies of scale, a critical factor in the “affordable mass” doctrine.

Sources

GA-ASI Press Release