Eyeing international sales, General Atomics moves to build drone wingmen in Europe
The company plans to tap its German-based affiliate General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH to produce and customize drone wingmen for European customers.
The company plans to tap its German-based affiliate General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH to produce and customize drone wingmen for European customers.
An Airbus spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the partnership, featuring Kratos’s XQ-58A Valkyrie paired with Airbus-provided mission systems, is “offer[ing] our German customer something we believe they have a requirement for in the coming years.”
Dave Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said the pace of engaging potential international partners in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has been "unprecedented."
“Europe's having a moment right now. And it's really recognition of the threat, and it's recognition matched with funding,” said Greg Kausner, Anduril's senior vice president of global defense.
The duo's new GEK1500 engine is set to offer 1,500 pounds of thrust and is expected to be demonstrated next year.
Loyal wingman drones, new weapons and advanced radars all can contribute to the F-35's future.
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
Travis Sharp from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments argues that the Air Force is giving an incomplete picture of the total cost of the CCA program — and that might be a problem down the road.
The Air Force could cut about $1 billion from the Sentinel ICBM and add hundreds of millions of dollars for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone wingmen program, a draft April proposal says.
The new firm's CEO told Breaking Defense the company is focused on being flexible, and delivering mass when asked.
The Royal Air Force said in a statement, “In a world of increasing threat to the UK and our NATO allies, StormShroud will serve as a powerful deterrent to potential aggressors.”
The service is expected to oversee a fly-off between contenders General Atomics and Anduril this summer.
“I think you'll see a range of options, from low end to potentially more exquisite,” Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel said of forthcoming tranches of drone wingmen. “I tend to think that it's probably going to be closer to this low end thing when we start looking at the further CCA increments.”
“We’ve been flying a prototype for quite some time,” said Steve Parker, Boeing’s interim defense unit CEO. “And we won the program. So that is a maturity stamp that I’ll give you right then and there.”