General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance drone to Creech AFB
General Atomics has delivered an FQ-42 Vengeance collaborative combat aircraft to Creech Air Force Base for testing. The U.S.
General Atomics has delivered its new FQ-42 Vengeance aircraft to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The drone will undergo continued test and evaluation operations there, according to a company statement released on Monday.
The delivery follows the U.S. Air Force's official naming of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as "Vengeance" just a week prior. Mike Atwood, General Atomics' Vice President of Advanced Programs, remarked on the program's pace. "Every week, the Air Force is pushing forward with new and more impressive accomplishments using Vengeance," he said in the release.
Testing and Capabilities
The Vengeance drone features an internal weapons bay and other low-observability characteristics designed to boost survivability. It has already flown alongside manned F-35 and F-15E Strike Eagle fighters in preparation for collaborative control operations. This testing is meant to shape how these autonomous systems will integrate with traditional crewed aircraft.
Creech Air Force Base recently conducted an Agile Combat Employment exercise using a different drone, Anduril's FQ-44 Fury. That exercise allowed personnel to develop foundational tactics and procedures for CCA integration. Anduril has not yet announced which base will permanently house its Fury aircraft.
Production and Funding
General Atomics is funding initial Vengeance production itself while government funding plans are finalized. This move is intended to prevent delivery delays. The company stated it is on track to produce six aircraft per month and has completed a new low-observable paint facility to support increased manufacturing.
The Air Force's fiscal 2027 budget request outlines significant funding for the CCA program. The detailed procurement and research funding requests are as follows:
| Funding Purpose | Fiscal Year | Amount Requested |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement | 2027 | $996.5 million |
| Advanced Procurement | 2028 | $150 million |
| Research & Development | 2027 | $1.37 billion |
| Total Program Request | 2027 | $2.37 billion |
Long-Term Autonomous Goals
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink recently revealed the service's ambitious timeline for autonomous systems. He stated the Air Force expects to have at least 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032. These aircraft are meant to perform many missions currently handled by manned fighters.
Meink made the comments during a keynote address at the Air & Space Forces Association's 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference. By then, our special operators will have the ability to employ thousands of autonomous one-way attack systems, and we will have autonomous fighters like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, he said.
The delivery to Creech marks a concrete step toward that future fleet. General Atomics' statement emphasized regular weekly progress with the Vengeance platform as testing continues in Nevada.
