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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has announced that its collaborative combat aircraft has a name: the Dark Merlin.
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A is one of two collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) being developed for the U.S. Air Force’s first increment of its program, along with the Anduril YFQ-44A. After first flights in 2025, both of the prototypes await a potential production award this year.
GA-ASI said in a Feb. 23 statement that it expects the YFQ-42A to lose the “Y” and become a production aircraft. According to Air Force policy, the Y means prototype, while F means fighter and Q means uncrewed. The General Dynamics F-16, for example, began its life as the YF-16.
The company said it selected “Dark Merlin” based on a falcon subspecies known for devouring other falcons as prey as well as collaborating in groups.
“Dark merlins are hunting machines, built for speed and aerodynamics,” GA-ASI President David Alexander said in the announcement. “They harass other falcons for fun, and they eat what they kill. The name sums up our new uncrewed fighter perfectly.”
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