The US Air Force formalizes its first autonomous combat aircraft YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, integrating AI at the heart of future air operations.
The US Air Force has officially integrated two autonomous combat aircraft into its fleet: the YFQ-42A from General Atomics and the YFQ-44A “Fury” from Anduril. These unmanned prototypes, developed as part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, mark an operational shift towards autonomous swarm systems, combined with piloted aircraft. Their objective is to ensure air superiority in future conflicts, with the first flight scheduled for summer 2025. These aircraft combine algorithmic analysis capability, advanced autopilot, tactical cooperation and AI/human command integration. The project is part of a dynamic of technological transformation and reduction of human and material costs in air conflicts.
A doctrinal shift towards autonomous combat systems
The integration of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A into the official nomenclature of the US Air Force reflects a structural transformation of air combat. These aircraft, designated according to the MDS (Mission Design Series) system, follow a precise classification: “Y” for prototype, “F” for fighter mission, “Q” for unmanned aircraft. This designation confirms the structural integration of artificial intelligence into American military doctrine.
The concept of “human-machine teaming” is based on tactical complementarity between piloted and unpiloted aircraft. This approach makes it possible to delegate reconnaissance, jamming or even attack missions to autonomous aircraft, while retaining human decision-making capacity. The US Air Force is therefore considering mixed formations, where traditional fighters such as the F-35A Lightning II lead a swarm of armed drones or sensors.
At the strategic level, this changes the chain of command, the rules of engagement and the operational philosophy. The concept of “distributed lethality” is gaining ground: each vector, even unmanned, becomes a fully-fledged combat platform, capable of making tactical decisions based on real-time data.
NATO is following this development. The European FCAS (Future Combat Air System), including escort drones, follows a similar logic. In China, the FH-97A “Loyal Wingman” program developed by AVIC also aims to integrate autonomous combat drones into its squadrons.
Technological performance and industrial implications
The development of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A has been accelerated: according to the US Air Force, the two prototypes have gone from the conceptual stage to prototype in less than 24 months. Their first flight is scheduled for summer 2025, with an estimated entry into service around 2028.
The exact technical specifications are not public, but the models are based on a modular architecture integrating:
- Multispectral sensor systems (AESA radar, infrared, optical)
- On-board AI for autonomous decision-making
- Ultra-fast data link systems (Link-16, MADL)
- Modular armament capacity (air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles)
The estimated dimensions of the YFQ-44 “Fury” are close to those of an unmanned aerial vehicle 11 to 13 meters long, with a wingspan of about 10 meters, subsonic or transonic speed, and a range of more than 1,000 km.
The targeted unit cost would be between 20 and 30 million euros, which is significantly less than that of an F-35A (around 75 million euros excluding maintenance). This reduction in costs would allow for a massification of air resources, facilitating a doctrine of attrition in high-intensity conflicts.
On the industrial level, this new generation of autonomous aircraft favors the integration of civilian technological actors in defense. The example of Anduril, a company founded by Palmer Luckey (formerly of Oculus), illustrates this evolution: rapid prototyping capacity, short development cycles, software flexibility.
Operational and geopolitical consequences
The widespread use of autonomous combat drones is bringing about several major changes:
1. Reduction of human risk
Highly lethal missions (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses – SEAD) could be entrusted to these drones. This reduces pilot exposure and allows resources to be engaged without the immediate political constraints associated with human loss.
2. Increase in decentralized targets
By having a dispersed fleet of autonomous vectors, the armed forces can saturate the enemy’s defenses. This swarming strategy forces ground-to-air defenses to engage multiple targets simultaneously, increasing their vulnerability.
3. Transformation of air bases
Autonomous drones require less heavy infrastructure. Their lighter logistics, faster maintenance and decentralized take-off capability pave the way for increased mobility and mobile secondary bases, which are more difficult to target.
4. Evolution of engagement doctrines
The introduction of AI in tactical decision-making requires a reinterpretation of international humanitarian law. The role of humans in the decision-making loop remains an ethical sticking point, especially in lethal missions.
Finally, on the geopolitical level, this dynamic is causing a global technological race. China, Russia, Israel and Turkey are accelerating their autonomous drone programs. This changes the traditional strategic balances, as states without advanced aviation can now acquire an autonomous strike capability at a lower cost.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.