Saudi Arabia in talks with General Atomics for up to 200 Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft
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General Atomics confirmed at the Dubai Airshow 2025 that its discussions with Saudi Arabia now include plans for up to 200 Collaborative Combat Aircraft based on the Gambit family, as well as 130 MQ-9B drones.
On November 18, 2025, Breaking Defense reported that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia now include up to 200 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) based on the Gambit family and 130 MQ-9B drones. At the Dubai Airshow, the company’s president, David Alexander, noted that production options inside the Kingdom are being analyzed due to the size of the potential order, one of the largest regional opportunities in the company’s history. The firm also brought a full-scale YFQ-42 model to the show to illustrate how its CCA might operate alongside stealth fighters, following the U.S.’s intention to sell the F-35 to Riyadh.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
General Atomics’ YFQ-42A, one of the two CCAs selected by the U.S. Air Force, incorporates an elongated fuselage, slender wings, a dorsal-mounted intake, V-tails, and an internal weapons bay planned for two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. (Picture source: General Atomics)
Alexander also noted that the localization of CCA production in the Saudi Kingdom is considered feasible due to the scale of the numbers being evaluated. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), such as the YFQ-42 or the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, are intended to operate alongside advanced crewed fighters such as the F-22, F-35, or future Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft in roles ranging from air-to-air missions to air-to-ground, electronic warfare, targeting, and intelligence functions. These jet-powered aircraft can fly alone or in small groups, using autonomy to collaborate with pilots and expand the size of the combat aviation force without the cost of equivalent crewed fighters. They are designed to support dispersed operations through concepts such as agile combat employment, enabling deployment from multiple sites to increase survivability. Their software-driven design allows rapid updates to autonomy and mission systems, making them adaptable to varied assignments depending on operational needs. The aim is to generate sufficient numbers to complicate hostile planning, create additional layers of protection for crewed aircraft, and carry extra sensors or weapons based on mission type.
General Atomics’ YFQ-42A is one of the two CCAs selected by the U.S. Air Force for Increment 1 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. It is derived from the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station demonstrator and incorporates modifications intended to provide greater speed and maneuverability than earlier test vehicles. Its configuration includes an elongated fuselage, slender wings, a dorsal-mounted intake, V-tails, and an internal weapons bay planned for two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, giving it relevance for air-to-air operations. The U.S. Air Force intends to procure more than 100 Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the first production increment and plans for significantly larger numbers in future increments. The first YFQ-42A flight occurred in August 2025, and the aircraft now forms part of a broader learning campaign combining industry testing, independent evaluation, and operational assessments.
Saudi Arabia’s discussions with General Atomics include plans for domestic production of components for the YFQ-42 and other Gambit-family systems due to the scale of potential orders. Larger quantities make it practical to introduce local content, supporting the Kingdom’s broader defense-industrial ambitions. The company stated that unmanned combat aircraft can be built at higher production rates and lower unit costs than crewed fighters, which enables their employment in larger formations and provides flexibility for a variety of missions. Other Middle Eastern countries have expressed interest in similar capabilities, as demonstrated by the Emitari Edge Jeniah, which is why the YFQ-42 model will appear not only in the UAE but also in upcoming exhibitions in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. General Atomics noted that interest increased following a successful U.S. demonstration in which an F-22 pilot controlled one of the company’s drones using a tablet in the cockpit.
The Gambit family comprises several modular unmanned aircraft built on a shared core chassis to reduce cost and allow rapid development of specialized variants. Gambit 1 focuses on long-endurance intelligence and surveillance missions, while Gambit 2 is intended for air combat with higher acceleration and maneuverability. Gambit 3 is designed as an adversary trainer to replicate hostile aircraft behavior for fighter training, and Gambit 4 is a low-observable reconnaissance platform shaped for contested airspace. Two additional variants, Gambit 5 and Gambit 6, expand the family into carrier-capable operations and air-to-ground strike and electronic attack roles, each maintaining compatibility with the shared systems. The modular design allows changes in wings, propulsion, sensors, and payloads while reusing approximately seventy percent of common systems across all models. This approach gives flexibility to operators who require different mission profiles within the same fleet structure.
General Atomics highlights that the Gambit series is intended to work with piloted aircraft by taking on tasks that might otherwise increase risk to human crews or reduce the efficiency of fighter missions. These aircraft can distribute sensors and weapons across multiple platforms, operate in large numbers to increase target complexity, and use autonomy to maintain formation or execute assigned roles with minimal pilot input. They support the concept of manned-unmanned teaming by allowing a pilot to supervise several aircraft at once through simplified controls. Flight testing with the YFQ-42A and parallel experiments with other drones, such as the MQ-20 Avenger, contribute to refining these functions for operational use. In environments where air defenses are dense or long-range systems threaten large manned aircraft, the Gambit family offers the potential to undertake reconnaissance, targeting, and protective roles while preserving crewed platforms for command and decision-making functions.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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General Atomics confirmed at the Dubai Airshow 2025 that its discussions with Saudi Arabia now include plans for up to 200 Collaborative Combat Aircraft based on the Gambit family, as well as 130 MQ-9B drones.
On November 18, 2025, Breaking Defense reported that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia now include up to 200 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) based on the Gambit family and 130 MQ-9B drones. At the Dubai Airshow, the company’s president, David Alexander, noted that production options inside the Kingdom are being analyzed due to the size of the potential order, one of the largest regional opportunities in the company’s history. The firm also brought a full-scale YFQ-42 model to the show to illustrate how its CCA might operate alongside stealth fighters, following the U.S.’s intention to sell the F-35 to Riyadh.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
General Atomics’ YFQ-42A, one of the two CCAs selected by the U.S. Air Force, incorporates an elongated fuselage, slender wings, a dorsal-mounted intake, V-tails, and an internal weapons bay planned for two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. (Picture source: General Atomics)
Alexander also noted that the localization of CCA production in the Saudi Kingdom is considered feasible due to the scale of the numbers being evaluated. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), such as the YFQ-42 or the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, are intended to operate alongside advanced crewed fighters such as the F-22, F-35, or future Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft in roles ranging from air-to-air missions to air-to-ground, electronic warfare, targeting, and intelligence functions. These jet-powered aircraft can fly alone or in small groups, using autonomy to collaborate with pilots and expand the size of the combat aviation force without the cost of equivalent crewed fighters. They are designed to support dispersed operations through concepts such as agile combat employment, enabling deployment from multiple sites to increase survivability. Their software-driven design allows rapid updates to autonomy and mission systems, making them adaptable to varied assignments depending on operational needs. The aim is to generate sufficient numbers to complicate hostile planning, create additional layers of protection for crewed aircraft, and carry extra sensors or weapons based on mission type.
General Atomics’ YFQ-42A is one of the two CCAs selected by the U.S. Air Force for Increment 1 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. It is derived from the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station demonstrator and incorporates modifications intended to provide greater speed and maneuverability than earlier test vehicles. Its configuration includes an elongated fuselage, slender wings, a dorsal-mounted intake, V-tails, and an internal weapons bay planned for two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, giving it relevance for air-to-air operations. The U.S. Air Force intends to procure more than 100 Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the first production increment and plans for significantly larger numbers in future increments. The first YFQ-42A flight occurred in August 2025, and the aircraft now forms part of a broader learning campaign combining industry testing, independent evaluation, and operational assessments.
Saudi Arabia’s discussions with General Atomics include plans for domestic production of components for the YFQ-42 and other Gambit-family systems due to the scale of potential orders. Larger quantities make it practical to introduce local content, supporting the Kingdom’s broader defense-industrial ambitions. The company stated that unmanned combat aircraft can be built at higher production rates and lower unit costs than crewed fighters, which enables their employment in larger formations and provides flexibility for a variety of missions. Other Middle Eastern countries have expressed interest in similar capabilities, as demonstrated by the Emitari Edge Jeniah, which is why the YFQ-42 model will appear not only in the UAE but also in upcoming exhibitions in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. General Atomics noted that interest increased following a successful U.S. demonstration in which an F-22 pilot controlled one of the company’s drones using a tablet in the cockpit.
The Gambit family comprises several modular unmanned aircraft built on a shared core chassis to reduce cost and allow rapid development of specialized variants. Gambit 1 focuses on long-endurance intelligence and surveillance missions, while Gambit 2 is intended for air combat with higher acceleration and maneuverability. Gambit 3 is designed as an adversary trainer to replicate hostile aircraft behavior for fighter training, and Gambit 4 is a low-observable reconnaissance platform shaped for contested airspace. Two additional variants, Gambit 5 and Gambit 6, expand the family into carrier-capable operations and air-to-ground strike and electronic attack roles, each maintaining compatibility with the shared systems. The modular design allows changes in wings, propulsion, sensors, and payloads while reusing approximately seventy percent of common systems across all models. This approach gives flexibility to operators who require different mission profiles within the same fleet structure.
General Atomics highlights that the Gambit series is intended to work with piloted aircraft by taking on tasks that might otherwise increase risk to human crews or reduce the efficiency of fighter missions. These aircraft can distribute sensors and weapons across multiple platforms, operate in large numbers to increase target complexity, and use autonomy to maintain formation or execute assigned roles with minimal pilot input. They support the concept of manned-unmanned teaming by allowing a pilot to supervise several aircraft at once through simplified controls. Flight testing with the YFQ-42A and parallel experiments with other drones, such as the MQ-20 Avenger, contribute to refining these functions for operational use. In environments where air defenses are dense or long-range systems threaten large manned aircraft, the Gambit family offers the potential to undertake reconnaissance, targeting, and protective roles while preserving crewed platforms for command and decision-making functions.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
