July 18, 2025 – Aviation News — General Atomics announced plans to manufacture a European variant of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) through its German subsidiary, General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH. The initiative aims to offer tailored drone capabilities to European armed forces and will be conducted as a “teamed operation,” the company revealed ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England.
GA-ATS, based near Munich, currently services and supports aircraft for Germany’s military. This move signals growing demand for next-generation drone wingmen in Europe.
The announcement comes just weeks after U.S. defense firm Anduril revealed a partnership with Rheinmetall to co-develop its own CCA platform for the region. Both firms debuted their respective CCA drones—General Atomics’ YFQ-42 and Anduril’s YFQ-44—at the Paris Air Show, intensifying the competition for future European contracts.
Anduril YFQ-44A Fury at the Paris Air Show 2025 | Rob Vogelaar
Photo Rob Vogelaar
