GA-ASI and USAF Demonstrate Passive Targeting in CCA Program GA-ASI and USAF completed a joint flight exercise using MQ-20 Avenger to demonstrate passive IR sensing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

GA-ASI and USAF completed a joint flight exercise using the MQ-20 Avenger for passive target localization via IR sensing and SSR. Decision on CCA Increment 1 contract expected by end of 2026. #GeneralAtomics #USAF #CollaborativeCombatAircraft
airpronews.com/2026/03/18/g...

General Atomics and U.S. Air Force Advance Stealth Combat with Autonomous MQ-20 Avenger Flight Test Aviation News – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Air Force have successfully completed a groundbreaking autonomy flight exercise, demonstrating critical new capabilities for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The test proves that uncrewed jets can now coordinate complex combat behaviors autonomously, marking a major leap in the integration of AI-driven wingmen for future air warfare. The demonstration, which took place on February 24, 2026, utilized a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed jet as a primary testbed.

#Aviation #UAF #GeneralAtomics #MQ20 #AutonomousFlight #CCA #DefenseTech #Stealth #AI #FutureWarfare

GA-ASI Calls for Mass Production of Uncrewed Fighters for USAF CCA Program GA-ASI pushes for immediate large-scale production of uncrewed fighters as USAF prepares FY2026 decision on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

GA-ASI urges immediate mass production of uncrewed fighters as the USAF plans a FY2026 decision on the CCA program. YFQ-42A "Dark Merlin" shows semi-autonomous flight with open architecture. Competition with Anduril heats up. #GeneralAtomics #USAirForce #CCA
airpronews.com/2026/02/25/g...

F-22 Raptor and MQ-20 Avenger Achieve Major Breakthrough in Autonomous Manned-Unmanned Teaming Aviation News – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a live autonomous mission at Edwards Air Force Base, pairing an F-22 Raptor with an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet. This demonstration proves that human-piloted fighters can effectively command robotic wingmen in complex combat scenarios, a vital step for future aerial warfare. The test, conducted in Southern California, utilized the latest government reference autonomy software to bridge the gap between crewed and uncrewed platforms.

#Aviation #USAF #F22Raptor #MQ20 #AutonomousFlight #DefenseTech #MUMT #GeneralAtomics #FutureWarfare #Aerospace

General Atomics Unveils “Dark Merlin” as Official Name for New Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft Aviation News – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has officially named its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft the YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. This branding marks a significant milestone in the development of autonomous wingmen designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets in high-threat environments. The selection of the name Dark Merlin draws inspiration from a small, fierce falcon native to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California, known for its aggressive hunting tactics and tendency to collaborate in groups.

#AviationNews #USAF #DarkMerlin #GeneralAtomics #DroneTech #CCA #DefenseIndustry #Aerospace #AutonomousSystems #FutureOfFlight

Collins Aerospace Sidekick Software Pilots General Atomics YFQ-42A Jet Collins Aerospace's Sidekick software successfully piloted General Atomics' YFQ-42A uncrewed jet, demonstrating the US Air Force's open systems strategy.

Collins Aerospace's "Sidekick" autonomy software successfully piloted General Atomics' YFQ-42A uncrewed jet, validating the USAF's open systems approach in the CCA program. #CollinsAerospace #GeneralAtomics #USAirForce
airpronews.com/2026/02/21/c...

USAF's unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft gain momentum

www.scramble.nl/military-new...

Credit photos: USAF

#avgeek #avgeeks #militaryaviation #ICYMI #USAF #CollaborativeCombatAircraft #CCA #412thTW #YFQ42A #YFQ44A #YFQ48A #GeneralAtomics #AndurilIndustries #Northrop

DARPA Advances X-68A LongShot Toward 2026 Flight Tests to Revolutionize Air Combat Aviation News – The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has successfully completed critical technical milestones for its LongShot air-launched uninhabited vehicle, now officially designated the X-68A. This progress marks a significant leap toward integrating autonomous "missile-truck" drones that can engage enemy threats while keeping crewed fighter jets at a safe distance. Announced in February 2026, the X-68A has cleared a series of rigorous ground-based evaluations, including full-scale wind tunnel tests and successful trials of its parachute recovery and weapons-release systems.

#AviationNews #DARPA #X68A #LongShot #GeneralAtomics #CombatDrones #USAirForce #FutureOfWarfare #Aerospace #MilitaryTech

US Air Force tests open architecture in flight with YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 collaborative combat aircraft - Air Data News The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has expanded testing of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program by validating a government-owned autonomy architecture

US Air Force tests open architecture in flight with YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 collaborative combat aircraft #Anduril #CCA #GeneralAtomics #USAF #YFQ42A #YFQ44A www.airdatanews.com/us-air-force-tests-open-...

US Air Force’s YFQ-42A Demonstrates Precise Mission Execution in Flight Test Aviation News – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully completed the first semi-autonomous airborne mission of its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. This landmark test proved that third-party autonomy software can seamlessly control advanced unmanned platforms, marking a significant step forward for the U.S. Air Force’s future fleet. The flight test utilized the Sidekick Collaborative Mission Autonomy software, developed by Collins Aerospace, to command the GA-ASI aircraft.

#Aviation #GeneralAtomics #Drones #USAF #Autonomy #DefenseTech #Aerospace #MilitaryInnovation #CCA #CollinsAerospace

SNC partners with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics on new U.S. Navy jet trainer bid - Air Data News Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has signed an executive charter agreement with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to form an industry

SNC partners with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics on new U.S. Navy jet trainer bid #FreedomTrainer #GeneralAtomics #NorthropGrumman #SierraNevada #SNC #UJTS #USNavy www.airdatanews.com/snc-partners-with-northr...

US Marine Corps Selects General Atomics for MUX TACAIR Program General Atomics chosen by US Marine Corps to integrate YFQ-42A prototype in MUX TACAIR program for autonomous combat evaluation.

GA-ASI was selected by the USMC for the MUX TACAIR program using the YFQ-42A prototype to test autonomous combat capabilities alongside F-35 fighters. The program supports rapid prototyping and Force Design 2030 goals. #GeneralAtomics #USMarineCorps #MUXTACAIR
airpronews.com/2026/02/11/u...

US Marines to use Air Force-developed combat drone in new program - Air Data News The U.S. Marine Corps has selected General Atomics (GA-ASI) to evaluate its YFQ-42A unmanned aircraft under a Marine program focused on future expeditionary

US Marines to use Air Force-developed combat drone in new program #CCA #GeneralAtomics #USMarines #USAF #YFQ42A www.airdatanews.com/us-marines-to-use-air-fo...

USMC Advances MUX Program with GA-ASI YFQ-42A Testing Aviation News – The U.S. Marine Corps has competitively selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to support evaluation work under its Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, a key step toward integrating advanced uncrewed systems alongside crewed fighters. The agreement tasks GA-ASI with combining its autonomy and uncrewed aircraft expertise with a government-supplied mission package, integrating the Marine Corps kit into the company’s YFQ-42A surrogate platform.

#GeneralAtomics #USMC #MUX #TACAIR #DroneWarfare #UAV #DefenseTech #MilitaryAviation #Autonomy #CollaborativeCombat

General Atomics to Advance Work on French Aircraft Carrier's Electromagnetic Launch & Arrested Recovery System Work will support electromagnetic launch and recovery design for France’s PA-Ng carrier through 2028

General Atomics to Advance Work on French Aircraft Carrier's Electromagnetic Launch & Arrested Recovery System

defensemirror.com/news/41058/G...

#GeneralAtomics #USNavy #NavalAirSystemsCommand #EMALS #AdvancedArrestingGear #FrenchNavy #PANG #NextGenAircraftCarrier

General Atomics to Advance Work on French Aircraft Carrier's Electromagnetic Launch & Arrested Recovery System Work will support electromagnetic launch and recovery design for France’s PA-Ng carrier through 2028

General Atomics to Advance Work on French Aircraft Carrier's Electromagnetic Launch & Arrested Recovery System

defensemirror.com/news/41058/G...

#GeneralAtomics #USNavy #NavalAirSystemsCommand #EMALS #AdvancedArrestingGear #FrenchNavy #PANG #ElectromagneticCatapult #ForeignMilitarySales

General Atomics Showcases New Do228 NXT for Enhanced Maritime Surveillance at Navy Tech 2026 AviationNews – General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) has unveiled its next-generation Do228 NXT aircraft at the Navy Tech 2026 conference in Sweden, positioned as a versatile solution for maritime surveillance. This deployment marks a strategic move to address evolving naval threats in the North and Baltic Seas through advanced aerial reconnaissance technology. The official debut took place in Gothenburg, where GA-ATS joined Scandinavia’s premier naval defense summit held from February 3-5, 2026.

#GeneralAtomics #Do228NXT #NavyTech2026 #MaritimeSecurity #AviationNews #DefenseIndustry #Scandinavia #NavalTechnology #SurveillanceAircraft #AerospaceInnovation

General Atomics Boosts Do228 NXT Capabilities with New Advanced Search and Rescue Sensor Integration AviationNews – General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) has announced the integration of the CPLS SENTINEL sensor into its Do228 NXT aircraft, a move designed to drastically improve the efficiency of search and rescue (SAR) and maritime patrol operations worldwide. This partnership with Andorra-based CDA Systems provides operators with a critical tool for locating missing individuals by pinpointing mobile signals in environments where traditional infrastructure has failed.

#Aviation #GeneralAtomics #SearchAndRescue #Do228NXT #Aerospace #MaritimePatrol #TechInnovation #SAR #AviationNews #RescueMission

GA-ASI and Barzan Holdings partner to develop advanced software General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Barzan Holdings, Qatar’s national defense and security leader, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the developme...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Qatar’s Barzan Holdings have signed an MOU at DIMDEX 2026 to develop advanced battle management software, enhancing situational awareness and intelligence-driven decision-making.
#GeneralAtomics #BarzanHoldings #DIMDEX2026

#GeneralAtomics y la #USNavy 🇺🇸 continúan ampliando la capacidad ASW del sistema UAS MQ-9B SeaGuardian®. La prueba de vuelo se realizó el 17/12/2025 y contó con cápsulas del Sistema Dispensador de Sonoboyas (SDS), duplicando así el número de sonoboyas disponibles.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian Expands Anti-Submarine Role with New Sonobuoy Test Aviation News – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Navy have successfully expanded the anti-submarine warfare capability of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian uncrewed aircraft during a recent flight test, strengthening maritime surveillance and undersea threat detection. The flight test was conducted on December 17 and featured Sonobuoy Dispensing System pods carrying more sonobuoys than in previous trials, effectively doubling the number available onboard.

#MQ9B #SeaGuardian #AntiSubmarineWarfare #ASW #NavalAviation #UAV #MaritimeSecurity #USNavy #GeneralAtomics #DefenseTech

#GeneralAtomics MQ-9B SeaGuardian® para #Alemania 🇩🇪
La #bundeswehr y NATO NSPA han anunciado la compra de 8 RPA MQ-9B SeaGuardian. El programa incluye cuatro estaciones de control terrestre certificables. La primera entrega está prevista para 2028.

German Navy Orders MQ-9B Drones to Boost Maritime Surveillance Aviation News – The German Armed Forces have ordered eight MQ-9B unmanned aircraft from U.S. manufacturer General Atomics to strengthen maritime surveillance and security operations. The drones will be operated by the German Navy and are intended to improve awareness over key sea routes and critical infrastructure.The order was placed on January 12, 2026, and focuses on maritime missions, with the first systems scheduled for delivery to naval aviation units from 2028.

#Bundeswehr #GermanNavy #MQ9B #GeneralAtomics #Drones #MaritimeSecurity #NavalAviation #AviationNews #UAV #Defense

PlaneAlert ICAO: A44360 Tail: N374HK Flt: N374HK
Owner: GeneralAtomics
Aircraft: MQ-9B SkyGuardian
2025-11-24 23:00:49 CET
Q9 UAV BorderPatrol UpholdThePublicTrust
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PlaneAlert ICAO: A44360 Tail: N374HK Flt: N374HK
Owner: GeneralAtomics
Aircraft: MQ-9B SkyGuardian
2025-11-24 21:25:42 CET
Q9 UAV BorderPatrol UpholdThePublicTrust
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US to sell F-35s, tanks to Saudi Arabia under new defense pact Saudi Arabia will purchase F-35 fighter jets and close to 300 American-made tanks as part of a new security agreement.

While not announced, other weapon sales may be part of the agreement as well. A top executive from #GeneralAtomics told Breaking Defense today that his company is in talks to sell up to 130 #MQ-9Bs in addition to 200 #Gambit loyal wingman drones to the #Saudis.

breakingdefense.com/2025/11/f-35...

GA-ASI and Saab Develop Unmanned AEW&C System for MQ-9B Drone GA-ASI and Saab partner to integrate AEW&C on MQ-9B drone, providing cost-effective, persistent surveillance against modern aerial threats.

🇺🇸🇸🇪 GA-ASI and Saab join forces to equip the MQ-9B drone with advanced AEW&C sensors, offering persistent, cost-efficient surveillance against evolving threats like missiles and drones. Demonstration set for 2026 in California.

#GeneralAtomics #Saab #MQ9B
airpronews.com/2025/11/21/g...

PlaneAlert ICAO: A44360 Tail: N374HK Flt: N374HK
Owner: GeneralAtomics
Aircraft: MQ-9B SkyGuardian
2025-11-21 00:44:18 CET
Q9 UAV BorderPatrol UpholdThePublicTrust
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GA-ASI completes third-lifetime fatigue testing on MQ-9B aircraft - MRO Business Today, Latest Aerospace News GA-ASI completes third-lifetime fatigue testing on the MQ-9B, validating airframe durability and supporting certification.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has completed the third lifetime of full-scale fatigue testing for its MQ-9B drone, simulating 120,000 hours (over 40,000 flight hours per lifetime) to validate long-term durability and support NATO STANAG 4671 certification.
#GAASI #GeneralAtomics #MQ9B

This is the YFQ-42A, recently revealed by #GeneralAtomics.