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01/18/2026

AFRL History: The Origins of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (OQ-2A & G3)

Credit - Video: OQ-2A Target Drone | AFRL Discovery to Delivery - Keith C Lewis - DVIDS

"Imagine an old rotary telephone... representing a command to the vehicle."

Air Force Historian Jeff Duford explores the surprising origins of today's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

The video examines the OQ-2A Radioplane of WWII, which replaced dangerous towed targets and used a primitive "rotary dial" Human Machine Interface (HMI). It also traces the lineage back to the G3 Target Glider of the 1920s—a cost-effective trainer that shares a direct mission connection with the modern YFQ-44A Fury (born from the Bandit program).

🛩 Historic Platforms: OQ-2A Radioplane & G3 Target Glider 🛸 Modern Platform: YFQ-44A Fury (CCA) 🕹 Tech Focus: Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) & Autonomous Systems 🔬 Source: AFRL "Discovery to Delivery" Series

Disclaimer: This channel is for educational and historical documentation purposes only. Content is sourced from public domain archives. Mil-Spec is a private entity and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or any government agency.

01/18/2026

New USAF Designations: YFQ-42A (XQ-67) & YFQ-44A "Fury" Explained 🇺🇸

Credit - Video: The First Combat Collaborative Aircrafts Out of the Lab | AFRL Discovery to Delivery - Keith C Lewis - DVIDS

The start of an exponential growth in revolutionary capability.

Air Force Historian Jeff Duford uncovers the AFRL origins of the first two vehicles chosen for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) acquisition program.

The Two Platforms: 1️⃣ YFQ-42A (formerly XQ-67A): Born from the LCAAPS program (Low-Cost Autonomous Aircraft Platform Sharing). It uses an automotive-style "common chassis" philosophy to standardize production, first flown in Feb 2024. 2️⃣ YFQ-44A (Fury): Born from AFRL's "Bandit" program (Aerospace Systems Directorate & AFWERX). Originally designed as a cost-effective uncrewed adversary to train fighter pilots.

🔬 Source: AFRL "Discovery to Delivery" Series ✈️ Programs: LCAAPS & Bandit 🔢 New Designations: YFQ-42A & YFQ-44A

Disclaimer: This channel is for educational and historical documentation purposes only. Content is sourced from public domain archives. Mil-Spec is a private entity and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or any government agency.

01/18/2026

Warthog + Viper: Ultimate Mid-Air Refuel ⛽️2

Credit - Video:
74th EARS conducts an air refueling mission within CENTCOM AOR - Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss - DVIDS
74th EARS conducts aerial refueling mission within CENTCOM - Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss - DVIDS
Credit - Music:
Music: Battlefield 6 Streaming Music Vol. 14 [Drone Strike]
Produced by Sascha Ende
Link: https://ende.app/en/song/13088-battlefield-6-streaming-music-vol-14-drone-strikeMusic: Battlefield 6 Streaming Music Vol. 14 [Drone Strike]
Produced by Sascha Ende
Link: https://ende.app/en/song/13088-battlefield-6-streaming-music-vol-14-drone-strike

Fueling the fight: A-10s and F-16s over the Middle East.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 74th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron conducts air refueling missions for deployed fighter aircraft.

Footage captures A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons connecting with the tanker over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. The KC-135's extended capabilities allow it to support a range of kinetic operations, day or night.

⛽️ Tanker: KC-135 Stratotanker (74th EARS) ✈️ Receivers: A-10C Thunderbolt II & F-16 Fighting Falcon 📍 Location: US CENTCOM AOR 📅 Date: Jan. 5-7, 2026

(U.S. Air Force video by Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss)

Disclaimer: This channel is for educational and historical documentation purposes only. Content is sourced from public domain archives (DVIDS). Mil-Spec is a private entity and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or any government agency.

01/18/2026

Warthog + Viper: Ultimate Mid-Air Refuel ⛽️1

Credit - Video:
74th EARS conducts an air refueling mission within CENTCOM AOR - Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss - DVIDS
74th EARS conducts aerial refueling mission within CENTCOM - Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss - DVIDS
Credit - Music:
Music: Battlefield 6 Streaming Music Vol. 14 [Drone Strike]
Produced by Sascha Ende
Link: https://ende.app/en/song/13088-battlefield-6-streaming-music-vol-14-drone-strikeMusic: Battlefield 6 Streaming Music Vol. 14 [Drone Strike]
Produced by Sascha Ende
Link: https://ende.app/en/song/13088-battlefield-6-streaming-music-vol-14-drone-strike

Fueling the fight: A-10s and F-16s over the Middle East.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 74th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron conducts air refueling missions for deployed fighter aircraft.

Footage captures A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons connecting with the tanker over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. The KC-135's extended capabilities allow it to support a range of kinetic operations, day or night.

⛽️ Tanker: KC-135 Stratotanker (74th EARS) ✈️ Receivers: A-10C Thunderbolt II & F-16 Fighting Falcon 📍 Location: US CENTCOM AOR 📅 Date: Jan. 5-7, 2026

(U.S. Air Force video by Airman 1st Class Travis Knauss)

Disclaimer: This channel is for educational and historical documentation purposes only. Content is sourced from public domain archives (DVIDS). Mil-Spec is a private entity and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or any government agency.

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