YFQ-48 Drone

Full Specifications

YFQ-48 Collaborative Combat Drone

The YFQ-48 represents the U.S. Air Force push toward autonomous combat aviation. Designed under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept, the drone is built to operate alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35 and NGAD platforms. Its role focuses on extending reach, increasing survivability, and reducing risk to pilots during high threat missions.

Developed in the United States by a leading defense aerospace contractor, the YFQ-48 emphasizes stealth shaping, autonomous decision support, and networked warfare. The aircraft is intended to conduct missions including strike support, electronic warfare, intelligence collection, and forward sensing in contested airspace.

The airframe features low observable design elements optimized for radar and infrared signature reduction. Internal payload bays allow the drone to carry sensors or weapons without compromising stealth. While exact performance figures remain classified, the YFQ-48 is expected to operate at high subsonic speeds with long endurance, allowing it to escort fighters deep into denied areas.

Advanced onboard processing enables AI assisted mission execution. The drone can receive tasking from a manned aircraft or ground station, then adapt in real time based on battlefield conditions. Secure data links support coordinated operations within a larger combat cloud.

Operational use is expected to begin later this decade, with the YFQ-48 serving as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for crewed aircraft. Its design reflects a shift toward distributed, resilient airpower tailored for peer level conflict.

YFQ-48 Collaborative Combat Drone Price

The YFQ-48 Collaborative Combat Drone is still in the prototype and evaluation phase. Unit cost figures have not been officially released, but early estimates suggest a price significantly lower than crewed fighter aircraft, supporting large scale deployment.