US Air Force Announces 1st Drone Aircraft With Fighter Designations

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said the two drone fighter prototypes are scheduled to begin flight tests this summer.

Concept art for General Atomics YFQ-42A (bottom) and Anduril Industries YFQ-44A (top) unmanned fighter aircraft prototypes. U.S. Air Force artwork courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries

In a historic development, the U.S. Air Force has awarded fighter aircraft designations to a pair of prototype unmanned aerial vehicles.

Announcing the move on March 3, the Air Force stated that it had provided the designation YFQ-42A to a prototype designed by General Atomics and had supplied the designation YFQ-44A to another prototype designed by Anduril Industries.