GA-ASI - Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics showcases airborne laser weapon on MQ-9B SeaGuardian at Sea-Air-Space 2025

General Atomics has revealed a new airborne laser weapon system integrated on the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced investments in two Dutch companies, Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors, following the inaugural Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event held last November. The companies were selected after presenting promising technologies and engaging in months of in-depth business and technical discussions with GA-ASI.

General Atomics selects two dutch firms for investment following Blue Magic Netherlands event

Air, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

GA-ASI and its partners focused on key areas including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Autonomy, Advanced Materials, Sensors, Advanced Manufacturing, and Space.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has signed a collaboration agreement with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace to jointly develop and produce Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for global defence markets. The agreement builds on a successful 2024 demonstration in which a GA-ASI MQ-1C Gray Eagle STOL (short takeoff and landing) drone was launched from the South Korean Navy’s amphibious vessel ROKS Dokdo while underway near Pohang.

General Atomics and Hanwha partner to develop ship-operable unmanned aircraft for global defence market

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics has signed a collaboration agreement with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace to jointly develop and produce Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for global defence markets.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully tested new software that enables the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft to receive in-flight target updates. This development will allow the UAS to more effectively pursue and engage maritime targets in real time.

General Atomics enhances MQ-9B SeaGuardian with in-flight targeting software

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully tested new software that enables the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft to receive in-flight target updates.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is supporting a demonstration that began in March and is featuring two U.S. Army-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). GA-ASI – the developer of the GE-ER platform – was contracted by the Army to integrate and operate an array of new capabilities on the versatile UAS platform as part of an ongoing effort to modernize GE-ER for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).

Hanwha Aerospace and General Atomics announce strategic partnership on unmanned aircraft systems

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

Hanwha Aerospace has joined forces with U.S.-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to co-develop and manufacture Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the global defence market.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, electro-optics, and related mission systems, and EDGE, a world-leading advanced technology group for defence and beyond, announced an agreement today to integrate EDGE smart weapons onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA.

United States approves potential USD 2 billion sale of MQ-9B drones to Qatar

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale request from Qatar for General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Belgian Ministry of Defence have successfully completed the maiden flight of Belgium’s first MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft. The test flight took place on 20 February 2025 at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California.

General Atomics: first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone for Belgium successfully completed

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Belgian Ministry of Defence have successfully completed the maiden flight of Belgium’s first MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

On 3 March, the U.S. Air Force announced the official designation of two prototype uncrewed fighter aircraft under its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme: the YFQ-42A, developed by General Atomics, and the YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril. These aircraft represent a significant step forward in the development of autonomous air combat systems and are expected to begin flight testing this summer.

U.S. Air Force unveils designations for next-generation uncrewed fighter prototypes

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

On 3 March, the U.S. Air Force announced the official designation of two prototype uncrewed fighter aircraft under its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has received EMAR/FR 145 Maintenance Organization Approval from France’s military airworthiness authority, the DSAÉ. This approval applies to maintenance of the company’s MQ-9A and MQ-9B unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

GA-ASI secures EMAR/FR 145 certification for MQ-9 maintenance operations

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has received EMAR/FR 145 Maintenance Organization Approval from France’s military airworthiness authority, the DSAÉ.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully conducted its first flight test series of the Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) using a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite constellation. The tests, commissioned by the U.S. Army and initiated in January 2025, mark a milestone as GE-ER becomes the first U.S. Army aircraft to operate under the new satellite service.

General Atomics successfully tests Gray Eagle Extended Range UAS with PLEO satellite communications

Air, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

The Gray Eagle platform is designed using a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), which allows for seamless integration of new capabilities.

The U.S. Marine Corps is set to enhance its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft with a new advanced payload, improving their intelligence and communication capabilities. The SkyTower II (STII) pod, designed to boost cross-domain communications, was successfully integrated onto a test aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in February.

U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9 Reapers upgraded with SkyTower II for enhanced battlefield connectivity

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

The U.S. Marine Corps is set to enhance its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft with a new advanced payload, improving their intelligence and communication capabilities.

On April 6, 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) conducted live, tactical, air combat maneuvers using Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilots to control a company-owned MQ-20 Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft System. Collaborative maneuvers between human and AI pilots were conducted using GA-ASI’s Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) ecosystem over a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) provider’s IP-based Mission Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) datalink. The LEO SATCOM connection was also used to rapidly retrain and redeploy AI pilots while the aircraft was airborne, demonstrating GA-ASI’s ability to update AI pilots within minutes.

GA-ASI demonstrates advanced autonomy on MQ-20 Avenger at Orange Flag 25-1

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully tested new autonomy software on its MQ-20 Avenger drone.