US Marine Corps Selects General Atomics for MUX TACAIR Program

This article is based on an official press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and additional industry data regarding the MUX TACAIR program.

U.S. Marine Corps Selects General Atomics for MUX TACAIR Program Using YFQ-42A Prototype

On February 10, 2026, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) competitively selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to participate in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. According to the company’s official announcement, GA-ASI will serve as a system integrator for the program, utilizing its YFQ-42A platform to evaluate autonomous capabilities vital for future expeditionary operations.

This selection marks a significant step in the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 modernization effort, aiming to field uncrewed “loyal wingmen” capable of operating alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35. The program focuses on rapid prototyping to deliver operational capabilities to the fleet on an accelerated timeline.

Program Scope and Objectives

Under the terms of the agreement, GA-ASI will integrate a government-provided “mission kit” into the YFQ-42A aircraft. The primary objective is to use the YFQ-42A as a surrogate platform to test and evaluate the kit’s ability to deliver both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, including electronic warfare and sensing capabilities.

The contract also mandates the rapid development of autonomy Software designed to control the mission kit. This software is intended to enable the aircraft to perform complex tasks with minimal human intervention, a core requirement for the MUX TACAIR initiative.

Competitive Landscape and Timeline

While GA-ASI did not disclose the specific financial value of this award in their press release, the contract is part of the program’s “Increment 1” phase. This selection places GA-ASI alongside the Northrop Grumman and Kratos defense team, which received a similar award in January 2026. According to defense contracting data, the competing Northrop Grumman/Kratos award was an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) valued at approximately $231.5 million.

The program is structured around a rapid prototyping schedule. Industry reports indicate an initial performance period of approximately 24 months, aligning with the Marine Corps’ requirement to field these systems quickly to support Marine Littoral Regiments.

The YFQ-42A and the “Gambit” Series

The aircraft selected for this evaluation, the YFQ-42A, is a production-representative prototype from GA-ASI’s “Gambit” series. The Gambit line is built on a “Genus/Species” industrial Strategy, which utilizes a common core chassis (the “Genus”) that can be fitted with different airframes (the “Species”) tailored to specific mission sets.

According to technical specifications released by GA-ASI:

• Platform Identity: The YFQ-42A is the military designation for the Gambit 2 variant, which is optimized for air-to-air combat.
• Design: The aircraft features a stealthy, low-observable fuselage with a V-tail configuration and dorsal air intake to reduce Radar-Systems cross-section.
• Performance: It is designed for transonic or high-subsonic speeds to keep pace with crewed fighters and has an estimated combat radius of over 700 nautical miles.

“GA-ASI was competitively selected by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for evaluation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.”

, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Press Release

The Surrogate Strategy

Although the YFQ-42A (Gambit 2) is optimized for air-to-air engagements, the Marine Corps is utilizing it as a testbed for a broader range of mission sets, including air-to-ground and electronic warfare. By using an existing, flying prototype, the YFQ-42A completed its Maiden-Flight in August 2025, the USMC can validate its specific software and sensor packages immediately, rather than waiting for a purpose-built airframe to be developed from scratch.

AirPro News Analysis

The Strategic Value of Commonality

The selection of the YFQ-42A validates GA-ASI’s “Genus/Species” Manufacturing philosophy. By decoupling the core chassis from the mission-specific airframe, GA-ASI has positioned itself to serve multiple service branches simultaneously. The YFQ-42A is also a contender for the U.S. Air Force’s CCA program, suggesting a high degree of potential interoperability between the Air Force and Marine Corps fleets.

For the Marine Corps, this selection supports the “Stand-in Forces” concept central to Force Design 2030. The MUX TACAIR assets are designed to operate from shorter, expeditionary airfields, extending the sensor and weapons range of the F-35B/C while performing high-risk missions such as the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) in contested environments.

Sources

Sources: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., U.S. Department of Defense (Contracting Data)