USAF CCA fighter drones to join Emerald Flag large-force exercise

The USAF will integrate Collaborative Combat Aircraft (YFQ-42A/FQ-42A and YFQ-44A/FQ-44) into a large-force employment exercise for the first time, aiming to demonstrate an end-to-end operational chain with 4th/5th-gen fighters. The novelty is the shift from prototype testing to force-level integration, including C2, autonomy trust-building, and Agile Combat Employment-style forward deployment and sustainment concepts.