General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has chosen the name “Dark Merlin” for its YFQ-42A unmanned aircraft proposed under the United States Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
The name draws inspiration from the merlin falcon, a bird noted for its speed and surprise hunting tactics against other falcons. GA-ASI indicated that if the aircraft moves into production, it will remove the “Y” prototype prefix while retaining “F” for fighter and “Q” for uncrewed in line with Air Force designation standards.
The CCA program forms part of Washington’s broader strategy to pair affordable autonomous aircraft with crewed combat jets. These drones are intended to operate alongside platforms such as the F-35 and the future F-47, enhancing mission flexibility and reducing risk to pilots. The “loyal wingman” systems are also expected to integrate with legacy aircraft, including F-15 fighters and KC-46 tankers.
In 2024, GA-ASI was selected to produce a production-representative test aircraft for the initiative and achieved the prototype’s first flight in 2025. The Air Force is also working with Anduril Industries and its YFQ-44A demonstrator during the program’s initial phase. Both firms are now awaiting a potential production decision later this year as flight testing grows more demanding.
