Grupo Oesas Autonomy Pioneer: Se Aviation Partners For Revolutionary Uav Flight Control
The Future of Fire-Fighting Missions: How Grupo Oesía’s UAV Navigation is Revolutionizing …
23. July 2025
Ga-Ats Unveils Historic Eu Combat Aircraft Partnership With Us General Atomics
The creation of a transatlantic partnership between General Atomics and its German affiliate, General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH (GA-ATS), marks a significant step towards the development of a European Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This joint venture aims to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA based on a mature U.S. platform, with European mission systems, and assembled in Europe.
The new aircraft is derived from the U.S. Air Force’s YFQ-42A prototype, currently in ground testing and scheduled for its first flight later this summer. The YFQ-42A is designed and built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) in San Diego, California. European mission system customization and manufacturing in Europe will be supported by GA-ATS, headquartered in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich.
This partnership leverages the prior investments of these established aerospace companies on both sides of the Atlantic, providing a significant head start for European uncrewed fighter development and meeting the speedy acquisition timelines set by European nations. It also paves the way for further international collaboration efforts and indigenous defense partnerships, built upon the successes of both companies in global aircraft delivery.
“We’re eager to combine our unmanned aircraft system expertise with the airborne sensor and weapons system expertise of the European defense industry, starting with our own affiliate GA Aerotec Systems GmbH in Germany,” said Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “With a proven CCA design already in production today, these systems will be delivered in significant quantity with high-technology European inputs to build and sustain affordable mass for NATO’s fighter forces.”
GA-ASI is the world’s leading builder of unmanned aerial systems, delivering over 1,200 aircraft in three decades and supporting a net fleet operation approaching 9 million flight hours. The company has pioneered three types of unmanned combat jets, including the groundbreaking MQ-20 Avenger (2009) and the U.S. Air Force’s XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (2024). Its YFQ-42A fighter was rapidly developed from the XQ-67A baseline and is expected to fly only 18 months after its predecessor.
International collaboration has always been a significant focus for General Atomics. GA-ASI aircraft are flown by the US, the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, India, and many other customers around the world. The company’s high-value supply chain for UAS extends deeply into these partner nations, where major airframe components, subsystems, and complete sensor payloads are manufactured.
GA-ATS is a German aircraft manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) company with over 40 years of experience in manufacturing and servicing aircraft. The company conducts MRO on NH-90 helicopters for the German military; builds, sustains, and modifies the Do-228 multi-role aircraft; and performs engine overhaul on the TPE-331-10 turboprop engine, common to both Do-228 and MQ-9A/B unmanned aircraft.
The new Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Europe, leveraging the YFQ-42A baseline, will benefit from these previous successes. By partnering with GA-ATS, General Atomics is able to tap into Germany’s expertise in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, while providing a mature aircraft design that has already undergone significant development.
European nations are essential and irreplaceable allies for the United States and General Atomics. The company will supply a mature aircraft baseline already well along in its development, and look forward to German and other European national partnerships to bring these aircraft online in European and NATO air forces as the Continent grows a new generation of highly capable defense systems.
The creation of this transatlantic partnership marks an exciting step towards the development of a European CCA. By combining the expertise of General Atomics and GA-ATS, the company is able to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA that meets the needs of NATO’s fighter forces. This partnership also paves the way for further international collaboration efforts and indigenous defense partnerships, built upon the successes of both companies in global aircraft delivery.
As we look to the future, it is clear that partnerships like this between General Atomics and GA-ATS will be essential in shaping the development of advanced defense systems. By working together, countries can share expertise and resources, accelerate development timelines, and create new opportunities for indigenous defense partnerships. The future of European air power is bright, and partnerships like this are poised to play a significant role in its development.
The creation of this partnership highlights the importance of international collaboration in the development of advanced defense systems. By working together, countries can share expertise and resources, accelerate development timelines, and create new opportunities for indigenous defense partnerships. As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to prioritize international collaboration in the development of advanced defense systems.
In conclusion, the creation of a transatlantic partnership between General Atomics and GA-ATS marks an exciting step towards the development of a European Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). By combining their expertise in unmanned aircraft systems and airborne sensor and weapons systems, the company is able to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA that meets the needs of NATO’s fighter forces. This partnership also paves the way for further international collaboration efforts and indigenous defense partnerships, built upon the successes of both companies in global aircraft delivery.
As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to prioritize international collaboration in the development of advanced defense systems. By working together, countries can share expertise and resources, accelerate development timelines, and create new opportunities for indigenous defense partnerships. The future of European air power is bright, and partnerships like this are poised to play a significant role in its development.
In the end, the creation of this transatlantic partnership marks an exciting step towards the development of a European CCA. By combining their expertise in unmanned aircraft systems and airborne sensor and weapons systems, General Atomics and GA-ATS are able to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA that meets the needs of NATO’s fighter forces.
As we look to the future, it is clear that partnerships like this between General Atomics and GA-ATS will be essential in shaping the development of advanced defense systems. By working together, countries can share expertise and resources, accelerate development timelines, and create new opportunities for indigenous defense partnerships. The future of European air power is bright, and partnerships like this are poised to play a significant role in its development.
The creation of this partnership marks an exciting step towards the development of a European CCA. By combining their expertise in unmanned aircraft systems and airborne sensor and weapons systems, General Atomics and GA-ATS are able to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA that meets the needs of NATO’s fighter forces. This partnership also paves the way for further international collaboration efforts and indigenous defense partnerships, built upon the successes of both companies in global aircraft delivery.
As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to prioritize international collaboration in the development of advanced defense systems. By working together, countries can share expertise and resources, accelerate development timelines, and create new opportunities for indigenous defense partnerships. The future of European air power is bright, and partnerships like this are poised to play a significant role in its development.
In conclusion, the creation of a transatlantic partnership between General Atomics and GA-ATS marks an exciting step towards the development of a European Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). By combining their expertise in unmanned aircraft systems and airborne sensor and weapons systems, the company is able to accelerate the delivery of a European CCA that meets the needs of NATO’s fighter forces.