US Air Force names new CCAs amid ambitious production goal

[william]

The FQ-42A and FQ-44A, the U.S. Air Force’s newest Collaborative Combat Aircraft, have been dubbed “Vengeance” and “Fury,” respectively.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink used the names for the first time during a Monday keynote address at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference while announcing that the Air Force intends to have at least 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032. The CCAs are expected to perform many of the same missions manned fighters complete currently.

“Because of the steps we are taking today, we will have a significantly different force by 2032,” Meink said at the 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.”

Meink highlighted that the aircraft went from contract award to first flight in fewer than 18 months, “almost unheard of in aircraft development.”

Meink said that for his goal to become a reality, Congress and industry partners need to provide more resources to generate prototypes and production at scale.

Vengeance and Fury: US Air Force names new CCAs amid ambitious production goal

"Vengeance" and "Fury" are now the names of the U.S. Air Force FQ-42A and FQ-44A, Secretary Troy Meink said Monday while announcing a new production goal.

www.militarytimes.com