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General Atomics

All articles tagged with #general atomics

defense8 days ago•13 min saved

Seven Firms Shortlisted for Air Force's $10M Drone to Replace Lost Reapers

The U.S. Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit have narrowed the field to seven companies for the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program, a low-cost drone initiative designed to replace the MQ-9 Reaper. The Air Force aims to field 500 units by 2032 at a target cost of $10 million per airframe, a fraction of the $30 million+ cost of current platforms. This push follows significant Reaper losses during operations against Iran, prompting a shift toward attritable, mass-producible systems.

via Air & Space Forces Magazine|

#defense #defense-innovation-unit #general-atomics

defense3 months ago•6 min saved

Air Force taps GA and Anduril to field first collaborative combat aircraft

The U.S. Air Force selected General Atomics and Anduril to build the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), with autonomy software developed by RTX, Shield AI, and Collins Aerospace. The program targets 150+ drones by the end of the decade, with a goal of roughly $30 million per unit, and FY27 funding to start the first production lots. Development will proceed in increments, including a parallel software competition leading to a final vendor decision in 2027, while production lines begin scaling to field capabilities.

via Breaking Defense|

#air-force #anduril #autonomy-software

defense4 months ago•6 min saved

USAF Races to Refill MQ-9 Reaper Fleet After Iran Losses

The Air Force plans to buy back a small number of unused MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers from General Atomics to backfill combat losses in the Middle East, but only a handful are available worldwide. With the MQ-9A fleet shrinking to about 135–165 aircraft, the service is pursuing the long-term MQ-9 Next (not expected for years) while cannibalizing Predator parts and reusing decommissioned drones to keep operations running.

via The War Zone|

#defense #drone-shortage #epic-fury

defense8 months ago•5 min saved

GA and Anduril Sketch Navy Carrier-Capable Unmanned Aircraft

At the Singapore Air Show, General Atomics and Anduril signaled that the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program could reuse Fury-era components and design concepts to deliver a carrier-capable unmanned platform, with multiple contractors developing concepts and a common-control system while the Navy refines its operating concept for carrier-based CCAs.

via USNI News|

#anduril #collaborative-combat-aircraft #defense

defense-and-military1 year ago•2 min saved

General Atomics and Saab Collaborate on AEW and Launch New Air Effect

At the Paris Air Show, General Atomics announced a partnership with Saab to equip the MQ-9B Reaper with Saab's AEW sensors for early warning capabilities, aiming for deployment by 2026, and unveiled a new air-launched effect called Pele, a small, autonomous UAS designed for deployment from larger aircraft or ground launch, with a range of operational uses including missile defense and drone swarm countermeasures.

via Breaking Defense|

#aew #defense-and-military #general-atomics

technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Air Force Advances Autonomous Drone Wingmen with New Orders and Design Approvals

Anduril Industries and General Atomics have completed critical design reviews for their drone designs under the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, setting the stage for test flights next year. The CCA program aims to deploy around 1,000 drone wingmen to operate alongside fighter jets by the end of the decade. Both companies are advancing their prototypes, with Anduril's Fury and General Atomics' Gambit leading the charge. The Air Force may select one or both designs for production, with further opportunities for other vendors in the future.

via Breaking Defense|

#air-force #anduril #collaborative-combat-aircraft