General Atomics’ recently unveiled air combat drone has completed its maiden flight, marking a significant advancement in the Air Force’s pursuit of what it terms as the “first of a second generation” of autonomous aircraft.

Known as the XQ-67A, this drone is a derivative of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) Gambit series of aircraft.

GA-ASI is proposing the Gambit series for the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft program, aimed at developing robot wingmen known as CCAs (Collaborative Combat Aircraft).

This innovative platform is integrated into the Air Force Research Laboratory’s covert Off-Board Sensing Station program (OBSS).

In 2021, GA-ASI and Kratos secured design contracts from the Air Force, and in 2023, GA-ASI was chosen to bring the design to fruition, Defense One reported.

The XQ-67A conducted its inaugural flight on February 28 at the General Atomics Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, California, as announced by officials from the Air Force Research Laboratory on Thursday.

Written by B.C. Begley