Collins Aerospace Showcases Autonomy Software in YFQ-42A Flight Test
LOS ANGELES, CA (SPX) – February 27, 2026 – Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX, has successfully illustrated its Sidekick mission autonomy software during a flight test involving the YFQ-42A, an uncrewed jet engineered by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
This initiative falls under the auspices of the United States Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
The recent trial integrated the YFQ-42A with manned fighter aircraft, augmenting sensor coverage, enhancing weapon employment efficacy, and ultimately boosting overall mission success rates within the operational formation.
Throughout the demonstration, operators engaged the autonomy mode, executing a four-hour mission where the YFQ-42A was governed from the ground by a lone human operator.
This test accentuated the seamless integration between the Sidekick autonomy core and the mission systems of the YFQ-42A, enabling the software to generate and implement precise piloting directives throughout the entirety of the flight.
Described by Collins Aerospace as a collaborative mission autonomy solution, Sidekick is designed to facilitate open systems cooperation between human aircrews and autonomous platforms in combat scenarios.
The software is fortified with intuitive features, adapting its behavior to align with the pilot’s operational style and the unique requirements of the mission profile, thereby eschewing a rigid control methodology.
“The expeditious integration of Sidekick onto this platform to execute various combat-relevant tasks underscores the strength and versatility of Collins’ open systems approach,” remarked Ryan Bunge, Vice President and General Manager for Strategic Defense Solutions at Collins Aerospace.
“The autonomy capabilities demonstrated in this flight embody nearly a decade of steadfast investment and close collaboration with our clients to propel advancements in collaborative mission autonomy.”
By deploying Sidekick on the YFQ-42A, Collins Aerospace is harmonizing its autonomy architecture with the U.S. Air Force’s vision for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, where uncrewed systems operate alongside manned fighters as force multipliers.
The company underscores that Sidekick is specifically crafted to bolster this concept, empowering human operators to manage autonomous teammates at a mission level, rather than requiring continuous low-level control inputs.
Source link: Spacewar.com.
