GA-ASI and MBDA sign Farnborough 2026 deal
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. And MBDA will integrate SPEAR weapons onto the MQ-9B and Gambit 6 aircraft.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander and MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam signed a memorandum of understanding at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 on 21 July 2026.
The agreement covers the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft and the Gambit 6 collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA.
MBDA makes SPEAR as a miniature cruise missile for precision strike missions.
Protector RG Mk1 and Brimstone
Alexander said the new work builds on MBDA’s Brimstone integration with the UK’s Protector RG Mk1.
Protector RG Mk1 is the UK Royal Air Force version of the MQ-9B.
In a statement on 21 July 2026, Alexander called the SPEAR plan “a very natural extension of our partnership.”
Allam linked the new memorandum to a long GA-ASI and MBDA relationship that already includes Brimstone and Protector.
According to MBDA, SPEAR is a next-generation air-launched surface attack weapon with low collateral damage effects.
The missile also offers a high loadout for persistence and a beyond-the-horizon reach.
That range helps the launch aircraft stay away from hostile air defences while still striking a broad threat set.
Meanwhile, GA-ASI’s MQ-9B is a long-range, high-endurance platform already in service or on order with close to a dozen nations.
The list includes the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Poland.
Gambit 6 is an uncrewed combat aircraft optimised for electronic warfare, SEAD, DEAD and stand-off precision strike.
SEAD stands for suppression of enemy air defences, while DEAD means destruction of enemy air defences.
Allam said platforms such as MQ-9B and Gambit are “revolutionizing modern air combat.”
GA-ASI and MBDA expect the pairing of ready aircraft and SPEAR to create a quick-to-field capability for military customers.
GA-ASI, based in San Diego, has logged more than 9 million flight hours across its unmanned aircraft systems.
The Predator line has flown for more than 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Grey Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger and MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian.
