General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has unveiled Gambit 6, the newest variant in its Gambit Series of uncrewed combat air vehicles. Gambit 6 adds air to ground capabilities to an existing air to air configuration and is being positioned for roles such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses SEAD, and deep precision strike.
The company says Gambit 6 uses a modular architecture and an internal weapons bay designed to reduce signature while permitting flexible payload integration. GA ASI President David R. Alexander is quoted in the announcement. “These are real threats, and they require real solutions,” he said. “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.”
GA ASI plans to offer airframes for international procurement from 2027. European missionized versions are slated for delivery in 2029. The company is reportedly pursuing industrial partnerships across Europe intended to support sovereign capabilities for its platforms.
The Gambit Series is built around a common core platform. That core accounts for landing gear baseline avionics and the chassis. GA ASI says the commonality is intended to lower costs increase interoperability and speed development of mission specific variants. The family already includes models optimized for sensing air to air combat combat reconnaissance and ship based operations. One Gambit derivative has been developed for the U S Air Force as the YFQ 42A to operate as an AI enabled uncrewed wingman alongside crewed fighters.
Gambit 6 is described as a multi role CCA collaborative combat aircraft intended to operate in contested environments. GA ASI emphasizes adaptability and scalability as central design goals and highlights integration of autonomy and sensor suites as key enablers for mission versatility.
The company first announced the Gambit concept three years ago and has iterated the family through multiple variants since then. Gambit 1 focused on long endurance sensing Gambit 2 added air to air weapons Gambit 3 targeted complex adversary air roles Gambit 4 emphasized combat reconnaissance and Gambit 5 was announced in 2024 for ship based operations.