General Atomics’ “Gambit” drone has already been chosen as a finalist for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, though the Navy’s requirements will be somewhat different.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), one of the companies now testing a prototype for the United States Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, has also been contracted “to develop conceptual designs” for a similar unmanned aerial system for the United States Navy. It was announced earlier this month that GA-ASI would develop a prototype based on “Navy CCA designs,” which seek to emphasize a carrier-based unmanned aerial platform.

“We’re honored by the vote of confidence from the US Navy and we’re eager to put what we’ve built to work for the future fleet,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “No one has more experience than we do with unmanned combat aircraft and we’re leveraging that to help the Navy get this capability onto the flight deck fast.”

The US Navy has called for a modular design “capable of being rapidly reconfigured and upgraded to meet changing mission requirements,” GA-ASI explained. That notably includes the ability to operate from the service’s fleet of aircraft carriers.

How Will the Navy and Air Force Drones Be Different?

GA-ASI’s Gambit was one of the two drones selected by the US Air Force last year as a finalist in its CCA program, along with Anduril’s Fury. The two prototypes, which respectively received the designations YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, have been undergoing testing this year. The two firms were selected over competing platforms from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

The YFQ-42A prototype began flight testing in August in California, but it remains unclear if Anduril’s YFQ-44A has made its maiden flight yet.

It is also unclear if GA-ASI’s prototype for the US Navy’s CCA program is another variation of the Gambit, but the company has developed multiple UAS, including its XQ67A and MQ-20 Avenger. The drone maker previously announced that it was developing a concept for “ship-based CCA operations,” which received the codename “Gambit 5.” It was also built around the Gambit Series of unmanned platforms, and would offer “rapid and affordable production at scale.”

Along with the YFQ-42A, all of GA-ASI’s UAS are AMS-GRA (Agile Mission Suite—Government Reference Architecture) compliant, meaning they are adaptable and modular with government-provided architecture, ensuring standardization for the US military.

“GA-ASI has pioneered unmanned jet operations for more than 17 years, beginning with the MQ-20 Avenger in 2008, and has extensive experience working with the US Navy and other nations on carrier-based unmanned aircraft operations,” the company explained.

What We Know About the US Navy’s Drone Program So Far

Few details on the US Navy’s CCA design have been released, but as with the US Air Force’s program, it calls for a UAS that will support a manned fighter, including advanced fourth and fifth-generation aircraft, acting as a “loyal wingman” and serving as a force multiplier for the manned system. The new drones are planned to work alongside the US Navy’s F/A-XX, the now-in-development sixth-generation fighter that will replace the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.

GA-ASI is one of several defense contractors selected to work on the US Navy’s CCA, along with Anduril, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. Lockheed Martin is currently working on a “Common Control” for the CCA.

Anduril, which confirmed that it was selected to compete in the program last month, could have an inside edge in the Navy’s drone competition, as it was already chosen as one of the two finalists in the Air Force’s CCA program. However, Boeing is already developing its MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial tanker for the United States Navy, while Boeing Australia has been working with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on the MQ-28 Ghost Bat—another loyal wingmen platform, which has already been used in flight operations from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Drones could be the most significant advancement in naval aviation since the introduction of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, and the US Navy is now pushing full speed ahead to ensure it isn’t left behind as adversary nations pursue their own drone programs.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image courtesy of General Atomics.

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