General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Tactical Air Support, Inc. successfully fused passive sensor data between a manned fighter and an unmanned test aircraft to track and engage airborne targets during a July 21, 2026, large force exercise.

In a press release issued on September 15, 2026, GA-ASI confirmed the flight test demonstrated Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Multi-Ship Ranging (MSR). The exercise proved that platforms built by different companies can share targeting data using government-standard open architectures, directly supporting U.S. Air Force (USAF) efforts to eliminate proprietary vendor lock in future autonomous fleets.

Validating open architecture for Collaborative Combat Aircraft

The July 21 Test-Flights paired a manned F-5 Advanced Tiger, operated by Tactical Air Support, with an unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) test aircraft developed by GA-ASI. Both aircraft were equipped with GA-ASI’s TacACE® software, a Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem designed to comply with emerging military software standards.

The test directly applied the Agile Mission Suite Government Reference Architecture (AMS-GRA) and the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA). The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) publicly released these standards on July 28, 2026, to establish a modular, open-systems approach for acquiring and upgrading weapon systems. Throughout 2026, the USAF has actively validated the A-GRA standard across multiple vendor platforms to ensure mission Software can be decoupled from specific vehicle hardware.

By utilizing these government reference architectures, the GA-ASI and Tactical Air Support platforms successfully communicated and shared sensor data without relying on a single manufacturer’s proprietary network.

“With this flight, we moved beyond simply flying an autonomous jet and showed how a manned fighter and an autonomous CCA can work together to find, track, and engage a target using passive sensors and shared autonomy,” said Michael Roberts, Advanced Programs Emerging Technology Director at GA-ASI.

Passive sensing and Beyond Line of Sight integration

The exercise focused on closing the kill chain against airborne adversaries using passive sensors, which allow aircraft to detect and track targets without emitting Radar-Systems that could reveal their own positions. The IRST MSR capability enabled the manned F-5 and the unmanned CCA to triangulate target data collaboratively.

To achieve this, the aircraft utilized a Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) data link, ensuring the platforms could maintain human-machine teaming and share high-fidelity targeting information over extended distances.

Roberts noted that the successful integration of these systems marks a critical step in the development of the CCA program. “This is the kind of operationally relevant mission that will allow autonomous CCAs to deploy alongside manned aircraft and deliver real combat capability for the warfighter,” Roberts said. He added that the flight test confirms the CCA solution’s readiness for production.

AirPro News analysis

The successful demonstration of IRST Multi-Ship Ranging between a manned F-5 and an unmanned CCA test aircraft highlights a pivotal shift in defense procurement and operational tactics. By proving that platforms from different Manufacturers can seamlessly fuse sensor data using the A-GRA and AMS-GRA standards, the industry is moving closer to the USAF’s vision of a highly modular, interchangeable autonomous fleet.

For decades, military aviation has been constrained by vendor lock, where purchasing a specific aircraft meant committing to that manufacturer’s proprietary software and communication links. The July 21 exercise demonstrates that decoupling the Automation software from the air vehicle hardware is not just a theoretical acquisition strategy, but a functional operational reality. As the USAF continues to refine its CCA requirements, the ability to integrate passive sensors across disparate platforms via government-owned architectures will likely become a baseline requirement for future defense contracts, fostering a more competitive and agile industrial base.

Sources: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) will establish a 22,000-square-foot innovation hub in Dayton, Ohio, expanding its local footprint sevenfold to support hardware and software development for United States Air Force (USAF) uncrewed programs.

Announced in a company press release on September 14, 2026, the Beavercreek facility is scheduled to open in Spring 2027. The expansion positions the manufacturers closer to key military acquisition and research centers at nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), specifically the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Prototyping and remote operations capabilities

The new facility will serve as a central hub for rapid prototyping, integration, and testing of next-generation Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). A key feature of the site will be a dedicated mission operations center, which will enable the remote flight control of GA-ASI aircraft directly from the Ohio location.

The project is expected to create 50 initial full-time jobs. The expansion builds upon GA-ASI’s existing presence outside WPAFB, which first opened in 2014.

Patrick Shortsleeve, Vice President of DoD Strategic Development at GA-ASI, stated that the expansion allows the company to bring its sensing and UAS expertise to a region known for advanced technology.

“This expansion will enable closer collaboration with local industry and more frequent interaction with our U.S. Air-Forces customer,” Shortsleeve said.

State and local economic partnerships

The development is a collaborative effort involving the State of Ohio, JobsOhio, the Dayton Development Coalition, and Synergy Building Systems. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine characterized the decision as a reflection of the state’s aviation heritage and workforce ingenuity.

J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio, noted that the investment reinforces Ohio’s role in national defense infrastructure. Synergy Building Systems Vice President John Kopilchack also welcomed GA-ASI into the company’s defense portfolio, emphasizing a commitment to clients pioneering modern military solutions.

Aligning with the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

The Dayton expansion follows a major production contracts awarded to GA-ASI by the USAF in June 2026 for the FQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The uncrewed fighter jet is designed for semi-autonomous air-to-air operations alongside crewed aircraft.

According to reporting by Air & Space Forces Magazine, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced on September 14, 2026, that the FQ-42A has been officially named “Vengeance.” During the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Meink outlined the service’s intention to field a minimum of 500 autonomous CCAs by 2032.

AirPro News analysis

We view GA-ASI’s physical expansion in Dayton as a direct operational response to the FQ-42A Vengeance production contract. By scaling its footprint directly outside the gates of WPAFB, the manufacturer is embedding its engineering and prototyping teams alongside the AFLCMC personnel responsible for managing the CCA program’s lifecycle. The inclusion of a mission operations center for remote flight control suggests GA-ASI intends to conduct active testing and demonstration flights integrated with AFRL research initiatives without requiring USAF personnel to travel to the company’s California or Nevada test sites.

Sources: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

The GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E) consortium has secured an 18-month contract from the trinational joint venture Edgewing to develop the core sensing and communications architecture for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter.

Announced in a September 10, 2026, press release by Manufacturers S.p.A., the agreement funds the next development phase of the Integrated Sensing And Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications Systems (ISANKE & ICS). The system is designed to fuse high volumes of data across the aircraft’s sensors, providing pilots with a decisive information advantage in contested airspace when the fighter enters service, which is targeted for 2035.

Advancing the ISANKE & ICS Architecture

The 18-month contracts tasks the G2E consortium with maturing the electronics that will make the GCAP aircraft a sensor powerhouse. G2E comprises Leonardo S.p.A., Leonardo UK Ltd., ELT Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, BAE Systems plc, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (JAIEC).

Andrew Howard, Interim General Manager of the G2E Consortium, stated that the contract reflects the progress the group has made in transforming from separate national companies into a single international entity prepared to execute the next critical period of development.

“This is a significant milestone for the consortium, cementing GCAP Electronics Evolution as a strategic enabling partner within the GCAP enterprise,” Howard said.

The consortium teams are currently integrating with GCAP Agency and Edgewing partners at the programme headquarters in Reading, United Kingdom.

Broader GCAP Funding and Development Timeline

The G2E award follows a series of major funding milestones for the trinational effort between the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. In July 2026, the GCAP Agency awarded a £4.6 billion contract to Edgewing to advance the next stage of the aircraft’s design and engineering.

That July agreement built upon an initial £686 million contract placed with Edgewing in April 2026. Concurrently, the UK Government confirmed an £8.6 billion Investments in the GCAP programme over four years as part of its Defence Investment Plan, securing the financial foundation required to meet the aggressive 2035 service entry target.

AirPro News analysis

We view the rapid succession of contract awards between April and September 2026 as a strong indicator of programmatic momentum. The £4.6 billion Edgewing contract in July provided the overarching financial framework, allowing sub-tier entities like G2E to secure their specific development timelines. The emphasis on the ISANKE & ICS architecture highlights a shift in sixth-generation fighter design, where electronic warfare, data fusion, and non-kinetic effects are prioritized equally with traditional aerodynamic performance. By co-locating the G2E consortium with Edgewing and the GCAP Agency in Reading, the programme is actively attempting to mitigate the communication and integration bottlenecks that have historically challenged multinational defense projects.

Sources: Leonardo S.p.A.