USAF fields FQ-42A/FQ-44A autonomous CCAs; first BLOS live-fire with inert AIM-120

The U.S. Air Force is advancing autonomous “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (FQ-42A and FQ-44A) intended to perform fighter-like missions alongside manned aircraft, including a first-ever end-to-end beyond-line-of-sight live-fire test using an inert AIM-120. The service also claims rapid development timelines and plans to scale to hundreds of autonomous aircraft by 2032, indicating a shift toward massed autonomous combat aviation.