From: Harold Brattland <habrattland@arvig.net> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2026 3:53 PM To: Brattland, Mike * <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> Subject: Aviation Week :: General Atomics Names YFQ-42A The ‘Dark Merlin’ First to a great name gives more headlines.... FQ-42A Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/general-atomics-names-y... -- General Atomics Names YFQ-42A The Dark Merlin Share Brian Everstine <https://aviationweek.com/author/brian-everstine> February 23, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-02/250827-f-af000-2001.jpeg?itok=5HLpfBrI> Credit: U.S. Defense Department General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has announced that its collaborative combat aircraft has a name: the Dark Merlin. The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A is one of two collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) being developed for the U.S. Air Force’s first increment of its program, along with the Anduril YFQ-44A. After first flights in 2025, both of the prototypes await a potential production award this year. GA-ASI said in a Feb. 23 statement that it expects the YFQ-42A to lose the “Y” and become a production aircraft. According to Air Force policy, the Y means prototype, while F means fighter and Q means uncrewed. The General Dynamics F-16, for example, began its life as the YF-16. The company said it selected “Dark Merlin” based on a falcon subspecies known for devouring other falcons as prey as well as collaborating in groups. “Dark merlins are hunting machines, built for speed and aerodynamics,” GA-ASI President David Alexander said in the announcement. “They harass other falcons for fun, and they eat what they kill. The name sums up our new uncrewed fighter perfectly.” <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2021-11/Brian%20Everstine%205x7_1.jpg?itok=wafr1QlB> Brian Everstine <https://aviationweek.com/author/brian-everstine> Brian Everstine is the Pentagon Editor for Aviation Week, based in Washington, D.C.