General Atomics Gambit Series

In production

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Series of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) for military operations, all share same core airframe platform: Gambit Core, proof of Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS). Includes concepts Gambit 1 (long-endurance ISR), Gambit 2 (air-to-air combat), Gambit 3 (advanced trainer), Gambit 4 (stealth combat recon, variant with most contrasting design), Gambit 5 (ship-based CCA, potentially chosen for US Navy), and Gambit 6 (air-to-ground/-air CCA). Variants used to develop a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for USAF, and for Europe (through GA-ATS). In development.

Photo: GA-ASI, AFRL

Lift type

Fixed wing

Assembly

Factory-built

Control

Autonomous

Engine type

Turbojet

Application

Fighter, Surveillance

Design & construction

The aircraft as engineered: what it is built from, the systems it flies with, and its configuration — each box a theme.

Airframe & structure

Primary structure

Composite

Wing

Composite

Landing gear

Retractable tricycle

Ice protection

None

Pressurisation

Unpressurised

Systems & avionics

Flight controls

Full FBW digital

Avionics architecture

Integrated glass suite

Configuration & certification

Wing position

Mid

Certification

Military

Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.

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Type variants

Variant	Launch / first flight	Notes
General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS	2022 / 2024	Variant presumably derived from Gambit 1, OBSS: Off-Board Sensing Station, comparable to Kratos XQ-58.
General Atomics YFQ-42A Dark Merlin	2025 / 2025	Uncrewed fighter jet variant selected for USMC MUX TACAIR & USAF CCA programs, design derived from Gambit 2. Formerly General Atomics YFQ-42A MDS Mission Design Series. USAF production variant: FQ-42 Vengeance.
General Atomics (AeroTec) Gambit Series	2025 /	European CCA variant with customised mission system and European manufacturing, derived from YFQ-42A.

Airframer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)	News
General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (GA-ATS)	News	European YFQ-42A variant

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The program’s dated history — milestones, contracts, supplier selections and facilities, each linked to its source. Log in to view.

Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.