General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has officially named its YFQ-42A autonomous aircraft “Dark Merlin” as part of its bid for the United States Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
According to the company, the name reflects the agility and ambush tactics of the merlin falcon. Should the aircraft secure approval for full-scale production, GA-ASI plans to drop the “Y” designation that signifies a prototype, while keeping the “F” (fighter) and “Q” (uncrewed) identifiers under established Air Force naming conventions.
The CCA effort is central to the US strategy of integrating lower-cost autonomous platforms into manned air combat operations. These systems are designed to fly in coordination with advanced fighters such as the F-35 and the forthcoming F-47, while also supporting older assets like F-15 aircraft and KC-46 refueling tankers.
Selected in 2024 to deliver a production-representative test article, GA-ASI conducted the Dark Merlin’s maiden flight in 2025. In parallel, Anduril Industries is advancing its YFQ-44A prototype under the same program phase. A production decision is anticipated later this year as both contenders continue expanded flight evaluations.
