General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has been chosen by the US Marine Corps (USMC) to participate in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme.
Under the new contract, GA-ASI will incorporate a Marine Corps mission kit into its YFQ-42A surrogate platform to assess integration with crewed fighters as part of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF).
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The agreement calls for rapid development of autonomous capabilities for the government-supplied mission kit.
The mission kit, which is characterised by its software-defined architecture and sensor suite, is intended to deliver both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, and is aimed at enabling expeditionary operations.
This phase of work will contribute to broader evaluations of future MUX TACAIR capability for the USMC.
GA-ASI will use its experience in autonomy and uncrewed aircraft systems as it works with the USMC on this programme.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe YFQ-42A will serve as a testbed for assessing how uncrewed platforms can work alongside manned fighter aircraft in operational conditions.
GA-ASI Advanced Programmes vice president Mike Atwood said: “This selection builds upon the GA-ASI autonomous systems in use today and demonstrates our commitment to delivering next generation capabilities for critical USMC missions.
“Our FQ-42, combined with our proven autonomy architecture and integration expertise, positions us to rapidly deliver an affordable CCA solution that enhances the Marine Air-Ground Task Force’s operational effectiveness in contested environments.”
GA-ASI was also chosen by the US Air Force in April 2024 to develop flight test articles representative of production models for its own CCA programme.
The YFQ-42A carried out its first flight in August 2025, supporting a modular design concept that allows for swift adaptation to different missions and service needs.
The platform, developed through GA-ASI’s continuing investment in autonomous combat aircraft, features a modular structure that facilitates quick integration of various mission systems.
The company’s autonomy architecture has undergone validation during several live flight tests, forming the basis for human-machine collaboration in complex operational scenarios.
In April last year, GA-ASI provided the USMC with a new MQ-9A Reaper uncrewed aircraft system (UAS).
