For the first time in its history, the U.S. Air Force has designated two prototype drones as unmanned fighter aircraft, marking a new era in aerial warfare. The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, developed by General Atomics and Anduril,

A separate Navy contract for its version of the NGAD fighter is still under competition between Northrop Grumman and Boeing.

Boeing will spearhead development of the U.S. Air Force's futuristic fighter and drone coordinator, the F-47, following a secretive competition and fits and starts within the service. Why it matters: The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) effort is meant to succeed the F-22 and be a linchpin for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).