GENERAL ATOMIC

Dark Merlin, YFQ-42: the sixth-generation autonomous fighter

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on Monday (23) the official name of the new unmanned fighter developed for the United States Air Force (USAF): Dark Merlin. Designated YFQ-42, the drone represents one of the main vectors of the future of American combat aviation and should operate in conjunction with the next-generation F-47 fighter.

The Dark Merlin is one of two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) models selected by the USAF for testing and development as part of the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program's family of systems, an initiative that foresees the integration of stealthy unmanned aircraft into a sixth-generation fighter, with the F-47 as the central platform. The other chosen project is the YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril Industries, known as Fury.

According to GA-ASI, the name Dark Merlin was inspired by dark merlins, falcons native to the Pacific Northwest in the United States, recognized by their black plumage and aggressive behavior in hunting other birds, including other falcons. The manufacturer states that the reference reflects the operational concept of the new system: unmanned aircraft capable of operating in groups to maximize the effect on targets. These birds are also frequently observed near the company's facility in San Diego, where the YFQ-42 is produced.

"They are fighter machines built for speed and aerodynamic efficiency," said David R. Alexander, president of GA-ASI, commenting on the choice of name. "They chase other falcons for fun and eat what they hunt. The name perfectly summarizes our new unmanned fighter."

The Dark Merlin has been accumulating advancements since its first flight, carried out in August 2025, including operation with mission autonomy software developed by the USAF. During testing, the system has already demonstrated capabilities such as fully autonomous takeoffs and landings, executed with a single command, in addition to other technical milestones as the program evolves.

According to the USAF designation system, the prefix "Y" indicates that the aircraft is a prototype or pre-production model. The letter "F" identifies fighter aircraft, while "Q" designates unmanned platforms. Upon entering production, the experimental prefix will be removed, and the model will be officially designated FQ-42 Dark Merlin, following the tradition of previous programs such as the YF-16, later renamed F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the YF-22, which gave rise to the F-22 Raptor.

by Vivaero