SAN DIEGO, — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has partnered with Spirit Defense, a Boeing company, to expand production of the U.S. Air Force’s FQ-42 Vengeance uncrewed fighter under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. Spirit Defense will design and manufacture fuselages for the aircraft, adding engineering and manufacturing capacity as GA-ASI prepares to increase production.
The partnership follows the Air Force’s June 2026 production contract award to GA-ASI. The aircraft received the Vengeance name in September 2026. GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said the company had established its design, development and manufacturing capabilities for the FQ-42, and that the agreement would increase capacity and improve production resilience by reducing reliance on a single manufacturer.
Spirit Defense President and CEO Keith Schrader said the company would contribute its manufacturing expertise to the programme. The company has renovated a 50,000-square-foot facility to support fuselage production. Specific production quantities and delivery schedules for its work have not been disclosed.
Founded in 1992, GA-ASI has traditionally manufactured its own uncrewed aircraft. Its portfolio includes the MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and MQ-9B SeaGuardian. GA-ASI has stated that it can produce six FQ-42 aircraft per month and has additional manufacturing space available.
FQ-42 Development and CCA Programme
The FQ-42 is designed to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft as part of the Air Force’s CCA programme. The Air Force selected GA-ASI’s FQ-42 Vengeance and Anduril Industries’ FQ-44 Fury for initial production under Increment 1.
The programme has an initial target of 150 uncrewed fighters by 2030, with a longer-term objective of acquiring up to 500 aircraft. Air Force officials have also stated a goal of fielding at least 500 CCAs by 2032.
The YFQ-42A prototype completed its first flight in August 2025. In September 2026, the Air Force received an FQ-42 at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, for further testing and evaluation. The aircraft has also flown in formation with F-35 and F-15E fighters in preparation for collaborative operations.
The FQ-42 features a modular design that allows mission systems to be replaced and new autonomy software to be integrated. According to GA-ASI, its software architecture has been validated through live flight tests across multiple airframes to support human-machine teaming. The aircraft also has an internal weapons bay and design features intended to reduce its radar signature.
The Vengeance draws heavily on GA-ASI’s Gambit family of modular combat aircraft, which uses a common core chassis demonstrated through the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station.
International Gambit Opportunities
GA-ASI is also discussing its Gambit family with international military customers. Drawing on development work involving the FQ-42, XQ-67A and MQ-20 Avenger, proposed variants are designed for electronic warfare, suppression and destruction of enemy air defences (SEAD), and stand-off precision strikes.
International customers could participate in manufacturing and integrate their own sensors, weapons and proprietary combat technologies.
The Spirit Defense agreement expands the industrial base supporting the FQ-42 as the Air Force advances its CCA programme. However, the number of fuselages Spirit Defense will produce and its delivery schedule remain undisclosed.
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