General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has unveiled Gambit 6, the newest variant in its Gambit family of collaborative combat aircraft, adding dedicated air-to-ground capability to a design previously focused on air-to-air missions.
Announced on November 4, 2025, Gambit 6 expands GA-ASI’s multi-mission portfolio for international customers, with export airframes planned to begin in 2027 and European missionized versions scheduled for 2029.
A modular strike-capable CCA
Gambit 6 expands on the Gambit family’s modular airframe by integrating an internal weapons bay specifically for precision air-to-ground munitions while still maintaining its air-to-air capabilities. The company claims that the shared design and autonomy features will allow for faster and more cost-effective production.
GA-ASI states that the internal weapons bay reduces the radar signature of the aircraft and supports flexible payload integration through a common avionics and software architecture. This variant is intended for missions such as suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), electronic attack, and deep strike operations in contested airspace.
“These are real threats, and they require real solutions,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “The modular architecture and signature-reducing internal weapons bay of Gambit 6 allow for easy integration of advanced autonomy, sensors, and weapons systems, ensuring the aircraft can adapt to a wide range of operational scenarios.”
YFQ-42A context and export focus
Gambit 6 is framed as an export-ready option for international customers. GA-ASI is pursuing European industrial participation to support sovereign mission systems and local integration work, aligning with requirements from European air forces.
The company is already adapting the YFQ-42A, developed as part of the US Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program, for European use. Assembly and mission-systems integration are planned at GA-ATS in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and Gambit 6’s export model is expected to follow a similar path.
Based on the original Gambit 2 concept, the YFQ-42A is designed to complement crewed fighters such as the F-35 and Next Generation Air Dominance systems, expanding sensing, weapons capacity, and survivability in contested airspace.
Growing competition in the CCA arena
The Gambit 6 debut arrives as competition in the CCA field intensifies, with GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A flying alongside Anduril’s YFQ-44A, and rival concepts from Lockheed Martin and Shield AI.
GA-ASI is currently showcasing the Gambit family, alongside the MQ-20 Avenger, XQ-67A, and YFQ-42A, at the International Fighter Conference 2025 in Rome.