General Atomics Resumes Drone-Wingman Flights After Autopilot Mishap
General Atomics has resumed flight testing of its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) after a seven-week pause due to an autopilot malfunction that resulted in the crash of a YFQ-42A 'Dark Merlin' drone. The incident, which occurred on April 6 at the company's airport in California, prompted a joint investigation with the Air Force. The investigation identified a software issue related to the autopilot's miscalculation of the aircraft's weight and center of gravity. Following a thorough safety review and software remediation, the YFQ-42A has been cleared to return to the skies. The crash did not result in any injuries, but the aircraft was deemed a total loss. General Atomics is competing with Anduril and Northrop Grumman in the Air Force's drone wingman competition, with a production decision expected by September. The Air Force has requested nearly $1 billion for its first CCAs in the 2027 budget. 
