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The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Senators urge MQ-9 Reaper fleet buildup by 2028 as the platform expands persistent airborne early warning

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee members want the Air Force to grow its MQ-9 Reaper fleet by 2028, citing the drone’s value in Operation Epic Fury. The push follows renewed emphasis on Reaper’s economical, radar-enabled persistent airborne early warning role.

2026-06-18T10:20:33.956584-07:00

Aviation Week

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

2026-06-17T14:21:04.826761-07:00

Breaking Defense

U.S. Army contracts General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to demonstrate ERAP extended-range maneuvering 155mm artillery

2026-06-15T13:38:20.315327-07:00

defence-industry.eu

GA-ATS officially rolls out the Do228 NXT at Oberpfaffenhofen, advancing the next-generation Dornier 228 utility turboprop

2026-06-08T16:02:48.484251-07:00

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The War Zone

Senators urge MQ-9 Reaper fleet buildup by 2028 as the platform expands persistent airborne early warning U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee members want the Air Force to grow its MQ-9 Reaper fleet by 2028, citing the drone’s value in Operation Epic Fury. The push follows renewed emphasis on Reaper’s economical, radar-enabled persistent airborne early warning role.

2026-06-18T10:20:33.956584-07:00

Senators urge MQ-9 Reaper fleet buildup by 2028 as the platform expands persistent airborne early warning

DefenseNews.com

General Atomics and Rheinmetall tee up transatlantic co-production for Vektrex 155mm precision artillery at Eurosatory 2026 General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Rheinmetall signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Eurosatory 2026 to explore cooperative production of Vektrex—an active maneuvering, precision-guided 155 mm munition—supporting allied long-range artillery modernization. Separately, General Atomics unveiled Bullseye cruise-missile and railgun projectile concepts alongside Vektrex.

2026-06-18T09:01:01.342649-07:00

General Atomics and Rheinmetall tee up transatlantic co-production for Vektrex 155mm precision artillery at Eurosatory 2026

Aviation Week

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USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts to General Atomics (GA-ASI) and Anduril for the first operational fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), assigning GA-ASI to produce the YFQ-42A and Anduril to manufacture the YFQ-44A. The move transitions the program from prototype development to full-scale manufacturing of semi-autonomous loyal-wingman aircraft.

2026-06-17T14:21:04.826761-07:00

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

Breaking Defense

U.S. Army contracts General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to demonstrate ERAP extended-range maneuvering 155mm artillery The U.S. Army awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) a contract to showcase a long-range maneuvering 155mm projectile under the Extended Range Artillery Projectile (ERAP) programme. The effort follows last year’s test in which the projectile hit targets more than 74 miles away when fired from an M777 howitzer.

2026-06-15T13:38:20.315327-07:00

U.S. Army contracts General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to demonstrate ERAP extended-range maneuvering 155mm artillery

FlightGlobal

Vaeridion’s Microliner contract commitments surge as GA-ASI deal adds battery know-how Vaeridion says its Microliner commitments have moved “into treble figures,” signaling rapid customer traction for its electric aircraft programme. The startup has also secured a deal with GA-ASI to supply its proprietary battery know-how for current and future Microliner platforms.

2026-06-10T13:39:15.811005-07:00

Vaeridion’s Microliner contract commitments surge as GA-ASI deal adds battery know-how

defence-industry.eu

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GA-ATS officially rolls out the Do228 NXT at Oberpfaffenhofen, advancing the next-generation Dornier 228 utility turboprop General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) has formally rolled out the Do228 NXT twin-turboprop at its Oberpfaffenhofen facility near Munich, in a ceremony attended by roughly 500 industry, government and defence stakeholders. The updated Do228 NXT is positioned for upgraded civil and military utility missions and follows the program’s demonstrator test phase.

2026-06-08T16:02:48.484251-07:00

GA-ATS officially rolls out the Do228 NXT at Oberpfaffenhofen, advancing the next-generation Dornier 228 utility turboprop

FlightGlobal

AFSOC MQ-9 Reapers integrate GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb for improved stand-off strike U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command MQ-9 Reaper aircraft have gained integration for the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb, expanding the drones’ precision strike options with a more capable stand-off weapon from a key uncrewed platform. The change supports longer-range effects while preserving Reaper’s mission flexibility.

2026-05-22T00:55:07.820838-07:00

AFSOC MQ-9 Reapers integrate GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb for improved stand-off strike

FlightGlobal

GA-ASI restarts flight testing of YFQ-42A CCA after April prototype crash General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has resumed flight testing of its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft following an April mishap that destroyed a prototype. The company says the return to flight followed safety reviews and a software fix addressing an autopilot weight miscalculation, with the Air Force calling the crash response “accept acquisition/test risk.”

2026-05-21T21:10:33.287494-07:00

GA-ASI restarts flight testing of YFQ-42A CCA after April prototype crash

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General Atomics News

Senators urge MQ-9 Reaper fleet buildup by 2028 as the platform expands persistent airborne early warning

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

U.S. Army contracts General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to demonstrate ERAP extended-range maneuvering 155mm artillery

GA-ATS officially rolls out the Do228 NXT at Oberpfaffenhofen, advancing the next-generation Dornier 228 utility turboprop

News Timeline