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The Department of the Air Force has officially named its newest uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft the FQ-42 Vengeance and FQ-44 Fury, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced during his keynote at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 14.
“Naming these aircraft is more than ceremonial, it connects the ingenuity and courage of our past with the cutting-edge capabilities our Airmen will command in future conflicts,” Meink said. “Fury and Vengeance represent the future of integrated combat capability, designed to operate in tandem with our aircraft… to hold any target at risk, anywhere, any time.”
Meink said the service is keeping operators closely involved in the effort, with the CCA program partnering with Air Combat Command’s Experimental Operations Unit to shape requirements and development. “The evolving strategic environment demands adaptive, affordable mass at scale,” Meink added. “CCA is in the hands of operators so they can help drive technical requirements and advance the platform at commercial speeds necessary to best support the Joint Force.”
Program leaders highlighted rapid acquisition timelines intended to accelerate capability to the field. “We cannot afford yesterday’s timelines for tomorrow’s threats,” said Gen. Dale White. “CCA is an exemplar program that shattered traditional acquisition cycles by uniting operators, requirements owners, acquirers, and industry partners from day one. Doing so has cut through bureaucracy and moved this program from first flight to live munitions firing in just nine months — delivering lethal, adaptable combat mass to our warfighters years ahead of schedule.”
The Air Force entered production in June for an initial batch of 150 Vengeance and Fury aircraft (Increment 1). The service plans to field 500 combat-ready, semi-autonomous systems by 2032 and ultimately build a fleet of 1,000, intended to team with crewed aircraft and enhance the reach, sensing and survivability of U.S. airpower in contested environments.
