Drone builder General Atomics will develop and build a variant of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft for European militaries, the company announced Thursday.
The company will use its German affiliate, General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH, in a “teamed operation” to build fighter jet drones in Europe, offering customized drones to other nations, the company announced ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo, a military air show held at Fairford in central England. GA-ATS manufactures and services aircraft for the German military, and is headquartered near Munich.
The news follows a similar announcement in June from General Atomics’ competitor Anduril, which announced it would team up with German defense company Rheinmetall to co-develop and produce its CCA offering for European militaries.
Both General Atomics’ YFQ-42 and Anduril’s YFQ-44 aircraft made their international debut at the Paris Air Show—setting up a competition at home and abroad for CCA orders.
In Paris, General Atomics told Defense One the U.S. Air Force has already been helping the companies pitch their CCAs to other nations—a notable change from the typical timeline it takes companies to get approval to sell abroad.
“We’re eager to combine our uncrewed 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,” General Atomics CEO Linden Blue said in a statement. “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.”
General Atomics’ announcement comes as European nations plan a massive increase to defense spending in an effort to rearm and prepare for potential Russian aggression—an effort U.S. companies hope to capitalize on.
Back at home, the companies are preparing for their CCAs’ first flight test this summer with the U.S. Air Force, after which the service will decide whether to bring one or both CCAs into production.
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