Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink on Monday designated the FQ-4 as the official name for the service's newest autonomous wingman. This announcement coincided with a target to field 500 operational Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by 2032, a step up from previous plans. This goal is part of a broader effort to acquire 1,000 total autonomous combat aircraft to support manned platforms.

Beyond the CCA program, the Air Force seeks 500 additional new drones to succeed the existing MQ-9 fleet. These systems are designed to operate in tandem with human pilots to improve mission flexibility and survivability. The updated strategy marks an acceleration in the deployment of robotic aircraft across the U.S. military over the next six years.