Nevada Air Force Base Receives First FQ-42 Vengeance Drone for Testing

General Atomics has delivered the inaugural FQ-42 Vengeance drone to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The aircraft arrived at Creech on Friday and will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation to assess its operational capabilities.

The delivery of the FQ-42 Vengeance comes just one week after the U.S. Air Force officially named the CCA as "Vengeance," reflecting the advanced nature of this unmanned combat system designed for future warfare scenarios. According to a company press release, General Atomics Vice President of Advanced Programs Mike Atwood highlighted the rapid progress made by the program in such a short timeframe.

The arrival of Vengeance at Creech follows an Agile Combat Employment exercise conducted earlier this year using Anduril's FQ-44 Fury drone. This exercise allowed airmen to develop foundational tactics and procedures for integrating CCA into operational units, paving the way for seamless integration with manned aircraft in future combat scenarios.

While General Atomics has announced Creech as the home base for Vengeance, Anduril has yet to disclose which Air Force facility will house its Fury drone. The decision reflects the competitive landscape among defense contractors vying to supply cutting-edge technology to the military.

Vengeance is equipped with an internal weapons bay and features designed to enhance stealth capabilities and survivability in combat environments. During recent trials, it successfully operated alongside F-35 and F-15E Strike Eagles, demonstrating its potential for collaborative control operations with manned aircraft.

In a keynote address at last week's Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink outlined ambitious goals for expanding the use of autonomous systems within the military. The service aims to have at least 500 autonomous aircraft operational by 2032, with these platforms set to perform a wide range of missions currently handled by manned fighter jets.

To support this initiative, General Atomics has invested in new manufacturing facilities, including a "low-observable paint facility," aimed at accelerating production and ensuring timely delivery of the FQ-42 Vengeance. The company is on track to deliver six aircraft per month as government funding plans continue to mature.

The Air Force's fiscal 2027 budget request includes $996.5 million for procurement, with an additional $150 million allocated for advanced procurement in the following year. Research and development funding of $1.37 billion is also requested, bringing the total program cost to $2.37 billion.

This substantial investment underscores the military's commitment to advancing autonomous combat capabilities as a cornerstone of future defense strategies. The successful delivery of Vengeance to Creech marks an important step in realizing these ambitious goals and enhancing the Air Force’s operational readiness for emerging threats.