General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

The Air Force will receive a classified directed energy system last among the three armed services participating in the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative.

Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
About three years before its first scheduled fielding, the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet has a new group of F-16-based testbed aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
A new Royal Air Force strategy lays out plans for the introduction of larger systems after having developed small, swarming platforms.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Future battlefields with dispersed units and contested logistics are driving DARPA’s new portfolio of disruptive investments.
Emerging Technologies

By Brian Everstine
Its plan differs from some prior programs, such as the venerable MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine
Facing a reduction to its expected budget next year, the military cuts back on near-term aircraft procurement.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced Feb. 29 that its XA-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) flew for the first time the day before.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Collaboration defines the operational role of a new class of autonomous combat systems as well a new model for foreign industry partners.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The service will select two companies to begin building CCAs, though with a cost-sharing agreement to bring along a third.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A promotional video released a few days before the Air Warfare Symposium shows off the XQ-67 Off-board Sensing Station (OBSS) in motion for the first time.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The service, blocked from starting new acquisition programs, used a long-standing autonomy demonstration effort to begin CCA work.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Aurora Flight Sciences team is competing with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) during phase 1B of the Liberty Lifter program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Danish lawmakers have agreed on a plan to purchase long-range UAS to patrol the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
With orders for Edge’s Reach-S UAS, the United Arab Emirates has joined the growing list of nations capable of developing armed drones.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. will get a chance next year to prove the Predator is worthy of a long-term contract from the U.S. Navy.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Nov. 15 test served two purposes—as a carrier-proving flight for the Mojave and as a demonstration of the largest crewless aircraft on a Royal Navy ship.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Garrett Reim
Divergent Technologies, an advanced manufacturing startup, has closed a $230 million Series D fundraising round.
Supply Chain

By Tony Osborne
Edge Group has partnered with GA-ASI to integrate United Arab Emirates-made weapons onto the MQ-9B uncrewed air system, which the UAE is working to acquire from the U.S.
Dubai Airshow

By Steve Trimble
A brief visual reference to the MQ-9B kicked off the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference on Nov. 12.
Dubai Airshow

By Tony Osborne
F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have made the first Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) onto the Royal Navy’s Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
An MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) has taken a small step on a flight test path to an inflight recovery of another small UAS.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A market survey released by the Air Force calls for higher engine thrust than what candidates for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft have flown so far.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
General Atomics has acquired EO Vista, a company that develops electro-optical sensors for satellites and aircraft.
Space

By Steve Trimble
DARPA awarded the LongShot program to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) in February 2021 after a competitive selection process.
Aircraft & Propulsion