The current flight examined the combination of government-owned autonomy on the XQ-67A, paired with lively tactical datalink communications.
Normal Atomics Aeronautical Techniques introduced on Jul. 16, 2025, that it has efficiently demonstrated integration of presidency reference autonomy on the XQ-67A throughout a current flight check within the California Excessive Desert. The unmanned plane is a part of the Air Pressure Analysis Laboratory’s Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program.
The check flight
Based on the corporate, the current flight examined the combination of government-owned autonomy on the XQ-67A, paired with lively tactical datalink communications. The aim was to allow dynamic mission execution and real-time coordination with each crewed and uncrewed programs.
With the XQ-67 described as a second-generation Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), GA-ASI says the profitable check flight marked a significant milestone in advancing scalable, modular autonomy and seamless interoperable crewed-uncrewed teaming (C/U-T). The idea of “scalable, modular autonomy” is a central half of the present unmanned plane packages, as a modular, central core would enable to acquire a number of ACP configurations primarily based on mission necessities, augmenting the crewed platforms.
“This profitable check underscores the Division’s dedication to fielding autonomous programs that may combine into joint operations utilizing present tactical networks,” mentioned Mike Atwood, Vice President of Superior Applications for Normal Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI). “Authorities owned autonomy on the XQ-67A is a concrete step towards deployable, combat-relevant autonomy that works with and alongside crewed platforms.”

Through the flight, in line with the corporate, the XQ-67A executed check factors to validate the combination of mission programs on the plane, together with autonomy, mission computing, networking, energy and thermal administration, and datalinks. The point out of energy and thermal administration may level in direction of a potential relation with the Demon Ape (Demonstration of Autonomous Collaborative Platform Efficiency and Effectiveness) program, which incorporates modifications to the XQ-67A “to make sure ample energy technology and thermal administration capability.”
GA-ASI additionally defined that, throughout the check flight, the plane acquired real-time updates and situational information by means of a tactical datalink. Though there is no such thing as a indication that the XQ-67A flew with different plane, the corporate says this might give it the power to coordinate seamlessly with crewed plane and different autonomous programs sooner or later.
New YFQ-42A picture
Along with the press launch in regards to the check flight, GA-ASI additionally launched a brand new picture displaying the MQ-20 Avenger, the XQ-67 OBSS and the YFQ-42 Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) collectively. This follows the primary picture of the manufacturing consultant check car launched in Might 2025.

The side-by-side view permits a greater take a look at the similarities and variations of the XQ-67 and YFQ-42. Actually, because it has been said previously, the YFQ-42 is derived from the sooner XQ-67.
In comparison with the XQ-67, the YFQ-42A options an engine air inlet with serrated edges, much like the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, in addition to apparently barely modified fuselage mildew traces. The nostril can be totally different, altering from the XQ-67’s ‘shovel’-like design to a extra standard one.
Variations could be seen within the wings’ design, with the YFQ-42 displaying a better sweep angle and a better taper ratio, in addition to a bigger floor. The V-tails, though they’ve an angle much like the XQ-67’s, seem like shorter, with larger taper ratio and no clipped ideas.
These design modifications is likely to be the results of makes an attempt to cut back the airframe’s radar cross-section to match stealth necessities of the CCA program. Additionally, the modifications mirror the CCA’s necessities for velocity and maneuverability.

The XQ-67A OBSS
Developed by Normal Atomics Aeronautical Techniques (GA-ASI) as a part of the USAF’s Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program, the XQ-67A is meant to behave as an attritable ahead radar node, addressing the USAF’s present pressing want for such a platform. Notable options of the XQ-67A embody side-looking radars on both facet of the fuselage. This unmanned aerial surveillance platform is a part of the USAF’s shift in direction of a distributed mixture of manned and unmanned plane to interchange the E-8 JSTARS retired in 2023.
The OBSS program advanced from the previous Low Value Attritable Plane Applied sciences (LCAAT) program, which beforehand developed the XQ-58A Valkyrie. The following Low Value Attritable Plane Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program transferred the know-how and information from the XQ-58A into the OBSS program. The XQ-67A is the primary of the second technology of such Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP).
AFRL’s XQ-67A, designed, constructed, ground-tested, and flown in simply over two years, is remotely piloted however able to autonomous flight. It enhances the Air Pressure Take a look at Middle’s X-62 VISTA and F-16 VENOM efforts to hurry the fielding of Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA).

Doug Meador, ACP functionality lead with AFRL’s Aerospace Techniques Directorate, on the time of the primary flight mentioned that “the XQ-67A proves the frequent chassis or ‘genus’ strategy to plane design, construct and check.” Actually, the design philosophy is predicated on the “genus” and “species” idea borrowed from biology. The “genus” represents the core of the plane, that includes a set of flight crucial subsystems. This may be shared and used as the muse for numerous autonomous collaborative platforms, the “species,” every with distinctive capabilities.
This “genus” strategy permits totally different plane kits to be added to the body, corresponding to an Off-Board Sensing Station or Off-Board Weapon Station (OBWS). The OBWS is anticipated to be the subsequent drone from this household, testing the talents of a missile-carrying loyal wingman.
This strategy saves money and time by leveraging commonplace substructures and subsystems, much like how the automotive trade builds a product line. The XQ-67 already proved the feasibility of this strategy, leveraging the work completed by Normal Atomics and the AFRL.

Earlier this 12 months, GA-ASI has been awarded a sole-source contract for the Demon Ape program, which can see the XQ-67A obtain new upgrades. Demon Ape, an acronym for Demonstration of Autonomous Collaborative Platform Efficiency and Effectiveness, is a testing program related to the Air Pressure’s bigger Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) program.
The modifications that the XQ-67A will bear as a part of Demon Ape are usually not at the moment recognized. Nonetheless, paperwork say that GA-ASI “should combine the particular mission programs” and “improve the car to make sure equate energy technology and thermal administration capability.”
The identical paperwork additionally point out that “there is just one XQ-67A plane in existence” and that it’s “the one exiting plane designed and constructed from the genus/species idea that has gone by means of full airworthiness and flight demonstration.”