General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance to US Air Force base in Nevada — Defense News

General Atomics on Friday delivered the FQ-42 Vengeance aircraft to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. There, it will continue regular testing and evaluation operations, Defense News reports.

Testing at Creech Air Force Base

A week before the delivery, the US Air Force designated Vengeance as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Mike Atwood, General Atomics' vice president of advanced programs, said that the Air Force achieves new results every week in its work with Vengeance.

According to the company, the FQ-42 has an internal weapons bay, as well as features to reduce detectability and increase survivability. The aircraft has already flown alongside F-35s and F-15E Strike Eagles as part of preparations for operations under joint control with crewed aircraft.

Two months earlier, Creech Air Force Base held an Agile Combat Employment exercise involving Anduril's FQ-44 Fury. During the exercise, service members conducted sorties and practiced basic tactics and procedures that are expected to influence the integration of Collaborative Combat Aircraft into the force. Anduril has not yet announced which US Air Force base will host the FQ-44 Fury.

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Production and funding

General Atomics reported the completion of work on a facility for applying low-observable coating, which is intended to support CCA production. The company expects to deliver up to six aircraft per month and is currently funding Vengeance production with its own resources while government funding plans are being developed.

The US Air Force's budget request for fiscal year 2027 allocates $996.5 million for CCA procurement, $150 million for advance procurement in the following fiscal year, and $1.37 billion for research and development.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink previously said that the service expects to have at least 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032.