General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is preparing to headline the 25th anniversary of the International Fighter Conference in Rome as the event’s sole Four-Star Lead Partner.
In a statement ahead of the event, GA-ASI emphasized its leadership in autonomous flight and manned-unmanned teaming through its MQ-20 Avenger, XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, and the newly launched YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The company says its participation reflects a broader commitment to allied airpower modernization and rapid capability delivery at scale.
“The YFQ-42A is a revolutionary aircraft, and the fleet is in production and in the air today,” said David R. Alexander, president of GA-ASI. “This isn’t a ‘wait and see’ moment. We’re flying. We’re delivering. And we’re advancing this future of combat aviation, the same way we have for more than three decades.”
According to the company, the YFQ-42A took its first flight in August and continues regular operations as part of GA-ASI’s autonomous systems program. The company says it is on track to fly a production-representative model for the U.S. Air Force by summer 2025. The platform, part of the Air Force’s evolving vision for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, represents a next-generation step in unmanned teaming with crewed fighters and other assets.
GA-ASI will display a full-scale model of the YFQ-42A inside the venue of the Rome conference, scheduled for November 4–6, and is expected to share additional updates during the event. The conference draws senior leaders, program managers, and industry specialists focused on the future of tactical airpower.
Since 1992, GA-ASI has delivered more than 1,300 uncrewed combat aircraft to U.S. forces and allied partners. The company recently surpassed 9 million total flight hours across its UAS platforms, which include the Predator, Reaper, Gray Eagle, SkyGuardian, and SeaGuardian. These systems form the backbone of current medium-altitude, long-endurance operations for surveillance, strike, and intelligence missions.
The MQ-20 Avenger, which first flew in 2009, continues to serve as a technology pathfinder. As noted by the company, the Avenger supports advanced autonomy testing using software from the U.S. government and industry providers, including proprietary development by GA-ASI teams. Much of this work, the company adds, is conducted using internal resources.
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