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GA‑ASI, Calidus sign MOU to explore co‑production of MQ‑9B SkyGuardian and Gambit CCA in UAE

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and UAE‑based Calidus Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding at UMEX to explore co‑production of the MQ‑9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and the Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft family in the United Arab Emirates. The deal would establish local manufacture of GA‑ASI systems in the Gulf.

Discovered 2026-01-20T09:17:37.970900-08:00 | 2026-01-20T09:17:37.970900-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The MOU opens a path to local manufacture, sustainment and technology transfer for large UAS and CCAs in the UAE, a deliberate move toward regional defence industrialisation and exportable production capacity (MOU explores co‑production). See the UAE’s growing local defence partnerships for context: source:12ff76c7-cca5-4a52-8109-b3b83779a399
  • The agreement underlines Gulf demand for large ISR-capable UAS and collaborative combat aircraft concepts, linking near‑term MQ‑9B deployments and broader CCA competition in allied markets; relevant background includes recent MQ‑9B operational plans and the expanding CCA field: source:f30503c1-db16-4019-b06a-657bc34e621f and source:56cf024b-f5d4-4941-ac30-c816360dc4ca

Reported By

unmannedsystemstechnology.com defenseadvancement.com overtdefense.com uasvision.com aerospaceglobalnews.com airforce-technology.com
Sources Tracked
20
First Seen
2026-01-20T09:17:37.970900-08:00
Latest Update
2026-01-26T22:39:10.985537-08:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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