---
title: "FQ-42 Vengeance Fighter Drone Program Update"
date: "2026-09-16"
modified: "2026-09-16"
authors:
  - name: "The War Zone staff"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/the-war-zone-staff.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/fq-42-vengeance-fighter-drone-program-update"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Collaborative Combat Aircraft"
  - "Sponsored Content"
  - "Unmanned"
---

# FQ-42 Vengeance Fighter Drone Program Update

![General Atomics is making quick progress with its FQ-42 CCA, moving toward a live fire test event.](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2607_FQ-42A_DRONE_SR_0047_L22926_CUI_scr.jpg>)
*General Atomics*

It is stunning to see the impact the USAF's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has made on discourse surrounding the future of the Air Force since it was officially announced. There is still much to prove regarding the concept, but testing is accelerating and the USAF now plans on [buying 500 CCAs by 2032](<https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans.md>). At the same time, the USAF is now hunting for a [successor to the MQ-9 Reaper](<https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-wants-mq-9-next-reaper-replacement-to-be-modular-cheap.md>), with plans on procuring hundreds of those drones, as well, by early in the next decade.

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/branded-from-gaa1-copy.jpg>)

With all this in mind, *TWZ's* Jamie Hunter talked to Mike Shortsleeve from General Atomics on the show floor at Air, Space & Cyber 2026. The two discussed the latest progress for the company's [newly-named](<https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans.md>) FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft, as well as General Atomics' new [Wildfire platform](<https://www.twz.com/air/wildfire-is-general-atomics-successor-to-the-mq-9-reaper.md>) designed to address the lower-cost Massed Modular Aircraft program that could replace the company's iconic MQ-9 Reaper.

Check out the interview below or at the top of this post.

https://youtu.be/wDk_XbTuuw4?si=_nwWkCI5VOTp4A95

*Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com*

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