General Atomics unveils Gambit 6 UCAV with air-to-ground strike role
November 5, 2025
General Atomics has revealed the Gambit 6, an autonomous combat drone based on the Gambit Series. The aircraft is related to the YFQ-42A being rapidly developed for the United States Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme.
GA announces new Gambit 6 UCAV with air-to-ground capabilities
General Atomics (GA-ASI) announced on 4th November a new iteration of its Gambit Series of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV) called Gambit 6. This new aircraft adds air-to-ground operations to its repertoire of capabilities that already include air-to-air capabilities.
General Atomics says Gambit 6 is a multi-role platform optimised for an impressive range of capabilities, including electronic warfare (EW), suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), and deep precision strikes.
The Gambit Series shares a common foundation that allows for the rapid development of mission-specific variants like Gambit 6.
GA-ASI adds a new variant to its #GambitUAS Series of modular uncrewed aircraft: Gambit 6 for air-to-ground operations. The multi-role #UCAV offers international air forces a versatile air-to-ground collaborative combat aircraft to address emerging threats.
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) November 4, 2025
Read the news:… pic.twitter.com/Rs1U9ImhxM
Gambit 1 is a sensing aircraft designed for long endurance, Gambit 2 adds the provision of air-to-air missiles, Gambit 3 is further enhanced in the air-to-air role, Gambit 4 is a ‘flying wing’ ISR model, and Gambit 5 is an announced naval ship-based aircraft for CCA operations.
The Air Force’s YFQ-42 CCA is based on Gambit 2. The YFQ-42 aircraft has already won Increment 1 of the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme.
General Atomics eyes the European export market
General Atomics hinted that it is aiming at the European export market with the Gambit 6 as European countries re-invest in their militaries and rearm.
In its press release, General Atomics said Gamit 6 airframes will be “available for international procurement starting in 2027, with European missionised versions deliverable in 2029.” It added that General Atomics is building industry partnerships throughout Europe.
General Atomics announced plans in July to build a YFQ-42 factory in Germany to serve the European export market.
We’re leading the revolution in air superiority. The GA-ASI Gambit Series of collaborative, autonomous uncrewed aircraft delivers affordability at scale for any mission anywhere.
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) September 24, 2025
Learn more about #GambitUAS: https://t.co/VQbmPd4crY#AFANational pic.twitter.com/gNVZ0mY01t
This was announced at almost the same time as Kratos, which also revealed that it will build an Airbus-customised version of its XQ-58A Valkyrie in Germany. Anduril is partnering with Germany’s Rhinemetall to build its Fury CCA.
Dizzying speed of autonomous aircraft development
The development comes as autonomous combat aircraft (including loyal wingman drones) are developing at blistering speed. The US and China are locked in a Great Power Competition and are driving the field, although smaller nations are also developing their own. Over the last year, numerous new Chinese ISR and combat drones, ranging from small to massive, have been unveiled.
In the US, just in the last few months, General Atomics and Anduril flew the first representative examples of their respective YFQ-42 and YFQ-44 prototypes. Lockheed Martin and Shield AI have unveiled new high-end concepts of autonomous combat aircraft, and Boeing Australia is progressing with its Ghost Bat.
These are just a few very recent developments in autonomous military aircraft. Autonomous or semi-autonomous aircraft are being designed to operate independently or with manned fighter jets like F-35s, F-22s, and F-47s.
Lower-end autonomous combat aircraft, such as what the US Navy is exploring, start to resemble reusable cruise missiles that can be used for ISR or other functions before kamikazing themselves in a final mission ending a short career.
YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft is now conducting flight testing. GA-ASI's newest uncrewed jet is the future of air dominance. https://t.co/T3Y0g5ZXvp#YFQ42A #Airpower pic.twitter.com/um5hu3Y9Ps
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) August 28, 2025
Most are designed to complement manned fighter jets. A higher-end European UACV in development is the Helsing CA-1 Europa. Very high-end autonomous aircraft (like Shield AI’s X-Bat) are aiming to replace manned fighter jets.
Featured Image: GA-ASI
