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By (https://www.twz.com/authors/the-war-zone-staff) The War Zone staff      Published  Sep 16, 2026 9:00 AM EDT     (fq-42-vengeance-fighter-drone-program-update.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens in a new tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.          It is stunning to see the impact the USAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has made on discourse surrounding the future of the Air Force since it was officially announced. There is still much to prove regarding the concept, but testing is accelerating and the USAF now plans on (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) buying 500 CCAs by 2032 . At the same time, the USAF is now hunting for a (https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-wants-mq-9-next-reaper-replacement-to-be-modular-cheap) successor to the MQ-9 Reaper , with plans on procuring hundreds of those drones, as well, by early in the next decade. ()   With all this in mind, TWZ’s Jamie Hunter talked to Mike Shortsleeve from General Atomics on the show floor at Air, Space & Cyber 2026. The two discussed the latest progress for the company’s (https://www.twz.com/news-features/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans) newly-named FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft, as well as General Atomics’ new (https://www.twz.com/air/wildfire-is-general-atomics-successor-to-the-mq-9-reaper) Wildfire platform designed to address the lower-cost Massed Modular Aircraft program that could replace the company’s iconic MQ-9 Reaper. Check out the interview below or at the top of this post. (FQ-42 Vengeance fighter drone update from General Atomics thumbnail)  FQ-42 Vengeance fighter drone update from General Atomics       (FQ-42 Vengeance fighter drone update from General Atomics)   Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com   (https://www.twz.com/authors/the-war-zone-staff) The War Zone staff          (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air      (https://www.twz.com/category/collaborative-combat-aircraft) Collaborative Combat Aircraft      (https://www.twz.com/category/unmanned) Unmanned         Loading comments…  Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.         Latest (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/u-s-nuclear-control-mission-could-dramatically-evolve-under-looking-glass-next) (U.S. Nuclear Control Mission Could Dramatically Evolve Under Looking Glass-Next)     Sponsored Content   (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/u-s-nuclear-control-mission-could-dramatically-evolve-under-looking-glass-next) U.S. Nuclear Control Mission Could Dramatically Evolve Under Looking Glass-Next   Branded Content: Modernizing command, control, and communications network is critical for the future nuclear era. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/jamie-hunter) Jamie Hunter        10:33 AM  September 14, 2026      (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/how-drone-detection-is-evolving-to-counter-smaller-faster-and-swarm-threats) (How Drone Detection Is Evolving To Counter Smaller, Faster, And Swarm Threats)     Sponsored Content   (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/how-drone-detection-is-evolving-to-counter-smaller-faster-and-swarm-threats) How Drone Detection Is Evolving To Counter Smaller, Faster, And Swarm Threats   Branded Content: Leonardo DRS explains how tactical radars form a central element of a layered counter-UAS threat detection system. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/jamie-hunter) Jamie Hunter        1:46 PM  September 3, 2026        ()    The TWZ Newsletter  Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   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