General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Timeline

Events

2026-10-01 - Contract Award - GA-ASI receives $38.77M Taiwan MQ-9B logistics-support contract - The full $38,766,471 in Foreign Military Sales funds was obligated at award. Work is based in Poway, California, with completion expected by August 31, 2029. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center manages contract FA8689-26-C-B006. - source: war.gov
2026-10-15 - Demonstration - GA-ASI flight-tests SNC electronic-support system on Gray Eagle ER - The small-form-factor ESM is designed to detect hostile integrated air-defence systems beyond their weapon-engagement zones. Gray Eagle’s open architecture accommodates the modular sensing upgrade. The capability supports crewed–uncrewed teaming and follows… - source: ga-asi.com
2026-10-02 - Demonstration - SoftBank verifies airborne mobile coverage using MQ-9B SeaGuardian - The aircraft flew at 3,000 metres and provided ground coverage exceeding 5 kilometres in diameter. Outdoor measurements reached 20 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink using 5 MHz bandwidth. SoftBank built the pod to GA-ASI design and quality requirements… - source: softbank.jp
2026-09-24 - Contract Award - Radeus Labs secures GA-ASI ground-control-station contracts through 2029 - The work covers both new-build ground control stations and systems already fielded with unmanned-aircraft programmes. Radeus has supplied digital flight recorders and mission-computing systems to GA-ASI ground stations during a 25-year relationship. The… - source: radeuslabs.com
2026-09-18 - Production Milestone - General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance to Creech AFB - The aircraft will continue regular experimentation and test operations with U.S. Air Force evaluation units at Creech. GA-ASI completed a dedicated low-observable paint facility and says its current manufacturing infrastructure can support six aircraft per… - source: ga-asi.com
2026-09-09 - Demonstration - General Atomics gives first public look at Wildfire aircraft concept - The design shown carries large stand-off payloads and is intended to support massed operations. Wildfire work had been acknowledged previously; this milestone is the first public view of the proposed aircraft configuration. The programme remains a proposed… - source: airandspaceforces.com
2026-08-27 - Partnership - GA-ASI and Fujitsu sign MQ-9B support MOU for Japan - The proposed framework covers avionics maintenance, parts management, maintenance training and field-support services in Japan. The companies will also evaluate mission-system integration, design, manufacturing, testing and related technical collaboration.… - source: global.fujitsu
2026-08-17 - Contract Award - General Atomics wins ₹19.43 billion Indian Navy MQ-9B lease contract - The agreement covers two high-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft for a 30-month term. The aircraft will support maritime domain awareness and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance across the Indian Ocean region. Reuters… - source: reuters.com
2026-08-11 - Contract Award - Marine Corps exercises US$47.36 million MQ-9A support options - The modification covers engineering, logistics, software sustainment, payload integration and airworthiness support. The work supports operational capability for the Marine Corps expeditionary medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned-aircraft programme. - source: war.gov
2026-06-17 - Contract Award - GA-ASI receives U.S. Air Force FQ-42A production contract - The initial order starts delivery of production aircraft rather than extending only prototype development. GA-ASI describes FQ-42A as a purpose-built uncrewed combat aircraft developed for collaborative combat missions. GA-ASI disclosed the production award… - source: ga-asi.com
2026-05-19 - Demonstration - Saab LoyalEye completes first flight on GA-ASI MQ-9B - Saab said the flight took place on May 19 at GA-ASI Desert Horizon facility in Southern California. The integration pairs Saab LoyalEye radar sensors with the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft. The first flight begins a several-month evaluation phase toward a full… - source: saab.com
2026-04-15 - Contract Award - U.S. Army awards GA-ASI contract for Gray Eagle electronic intelligence upgrade - The U.S. Army awarded GA-ASI a contract to add enhanced electronic intelligence capabilities to MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range. The ELINT upgrade supports long-range sensing against integrated air defence systems. The award extends the Gray Eagle UAS… - source: ga.com
2026-02-23 - Capability - GA-ASI names YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft Dark Merlin - GA-ASI named its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. The company said the aircraft had delivered the Air Force's first successful CCA flight in August 2025. GA-ASI also said YFQ-42A completed its first CCA flight using mission… - source: ga.com
2026-02-20 - Demonstration - Collins Sidekick flies GA-ASI YFQ-42A autonomously for four hours - Autonomy mode controlled a four-hour flight while a human operator supervised from the ground. The test integrated Sidekick with the YFQ-42A mission systems and paired the uncrewed aircraft with crewed fighters. The flight supported the U.S. Air Force… - source: rtx.com
2026-02-13 - Demonstration - Autonodyne demonstrates F-22 to MQ-20 human-machine teaming - The February 13, 2026 flight used Bashi as a pilot vehicle interface for F-22 tasking of an MQ-20 unmanned aircraft. The F-22 pilot used the tablet to direct tactical maneuvers, waypoint changes and combat air patrol tasks. Autonodyne said the work was part… - source: businesswire.com
2026-02-12 - Capability - GA-ASI YFQ-42A completes semi-autonomous mission autonomy flight - GA-ASI integrated third-party mission autonomy into the YFQ-42A CCA for a semi-autonomous airborne mission. The flight advanced the company's Collaborative Combat Aircraft autonomy roadmap. - source: ga.com
2026-01-20 - Partnership - GA-ASI and Calidus sign MoU to collaborate on MQ-9B and Gambit CCA co-production in UAE - GA-ASI and Calidus Aerospace signed an MoU to collaborate on prospective co-production of MQ-9B and Gambit CCA in the UAE. The MoU also covers command-and-control and battle-management systems. The agreement gives GA-ASI a co-production partnership signal… - source: ga.com
2026-01-19 - Partnership - GA-ASI and Barzan Holdings sign MoU for battle management software capabilities - GA-ASI and Barzan Holdings signed an MoU to collaborate on advanced battle management software capabilities. The signing took place during DIMDEX in Doha. The agreement adds a software co-development partnership to GA-ASI command-and-control work. - source: ga.com
2026-01-12 - Contract Award - Germany orders eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian aircraft through NSPA - The German procurement covers eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian aircraft and four certified ground control stations. The acquisition is being executed through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. General Atomics expects deliveries to begin in 2028. - source: ga-asi.com
2025-11-04 - Product Launch - GA-ASI unveils Gambit 6 collaborative combat aircraft variant - GA-ASI introduced Gambit 6 as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft variant adding air-to-ground operations to its air-to-air capability. The product is aimed at international CCA requirements. The launch extends the Gambit family with an uncrewed combat-aircraft… - source: ga.com
2025-10-13 - Contract Award - U.S. Army awards GA-ASI contract to add MOSA-EW capability to Gray Eagle UAS - The U.S. Army awarded GA-ASI a contract to add a CMOSS-compliant open architecture electronic warfare capability to Gray Eagle. The work supports C5ISR and electronic warfare integration on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS. The award adds an electronic-warfare… - source: ga.com
2025-08-27 - Demonstration - GA-ASI begins YFQ-42A CCA flight testing with U.S. Air Force - GA-ASI said the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft had begun flight testing with the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is a jet-powered uncrewed platform designed for rapid production in large quantities. This is one of the strongest CCA product milestones for… - source: ga-asi.com
2025-06-17 - Demonstration - Shield AI advances Hivemind with second MQ-20 Avenger flight - Hivemind coordinated one live MQ-20 with its digital twin in a blended physical and virtual mission scenario. The aircraft executed formation flying and combat-air-patrol manoeuvres using A-GRA-compliant mission-planning layers. The test advanced beyond… - source: shield.ai
2025-06-09 - Contract Award - UK MOD signs Protector RG Mk1 support contract with GA-ASI - The UK Ministry of Defence signed a support and sustainment contract with GA-ASI for Protector RG Mk1. The UK PASS contract covers logistics and maintenance for Protector systems operated by the Royal Air Force. The event adds a service-support contract… - source: ga-asi.com
2025-03-04 - Demonstration - Shield AI Hivemind flies General Atomics MQ-20 at Orange Flag - The February Orange Flag exercise used A-GRA-compliant interfaces to connect Hivemind with the MQ-20's open architecture. The flight began a planned series of 2025 tests intended to expand the integration toward full A-GRA compliance. General Atomics uses… - source: shield.ai
2025-03-03 - Capability - U.S. Air Force designates General Atomics CCA as YFQ-42A - The U.S. Air Force designated General Atomics Collaborative Combat Aircraft as YFQ-42A. The designation identifies a production-representative uncrewed fighter aircraft. - source: af.mil
2024-04-24 - Contract Award - U.S. Air Force selects General Atomics and Anduril for Collaborative Combat Aircraft next phase - The U.S. Air Force selected General Atomics and Anduril for the next phase of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme. The phase covers detailed designs, manufacturing and testing of production-representative test vehicles. The selection gives GA-ASI a… - source: reuters.com
2024-04-23 - Demonstration - GA-ASI Mojave completes live-fire demonstration in Yuma Desert - GA-ASI confirmed Mojave destroyed static targets in live-fire tests on April 13, 2024. The test validated armed capability for the Mojave UAS demonstrator. - source: ga.com
2023-11-17 - Demonstration - GA-ASI demonstrates Mojave STOL UAS operations from HMS Prince of Wales - GA-ASI demonstrated Mojave short takeoff and landing capability from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The demonstration took place on November 15, 2023 while the carrier was underway off the U.S. East Coast. - source: ga-asi.com
2023-08-01 - Demonstration - Mojave completes first operations from an unprepared dirt strip - Mojave completed multiple takeoffs and landings from a dirt strip on 1 August 2023. The demonstration included a 586-foot takeoff and a 335-foot landing. General Atomics described the trial as proof of expeditionary operation away from traditional runways. - source: ga-asi.com
2023-02-15 - Partnership - GA-ASI and Divergent expand DAPS manufacturing integration - The companies had completed two projects that produced a fully integrated small-UAS metal aerostructure with more than 95% fewer parts. DAPS combined AI-driven design, additive fabrication, digital-twin inspection and automated tool-less assembly. The… - source: ga-asi.com

View General Atomics Aeronautical Systems overview