General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has unveiled Wildfire, a clean-sheet uncrewed aircraft designed to combine long-range performance, payload capacity, autonomy and lower-cost scalability. The GA-ASI Wildfire UAS incorporates lessons from more than 30 years of the company’s unmanned aircraft operations and is being developed for defense and non-combat applications.
According to GA-ASI, Wildfire is designed as a high-volume platform capable of supporting ISR, strike, cargo and other payload-dependent missions.
GA-ASI Wildfire UAS Introduces New Aircraft Design
Wildfire combines features from GA-ASI’s existing unmanned aircraft with lower-cost components, tailored capabilities and a modular architecture.
The company said the aircraft draws on experience gained through development and operation of platforms including:
- MQ-1B Predator
- MQ-9A Reaper
- MQ-9B SkyGuardian
- MQ-20 Avenger
- FQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft
According to GA-ASI, it has delivered more than 1,600 uncrewed aircraft during the past 30 years, with its aircraft accumulating nearly 10 million flight hours.
“This is exactly the right design for high-demand missions and cost-conscious customers,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Our tailor-designed, attrition-tolerant Wildfire balances the high capability our aircraft are known for with huge flexibility and great scalability. There’s never been anything like it before.”
Wildfire Designed for High-Volume Defense Operations
For defense applications, GA-ASI said Wildfire is intended to be deployed rapidly and in large numbers.
The aircraft is designed for kinetic battlefield roles while providing a lower-cost alternative for missions where larger numbers of aircraft may be required.
According to Alexander, Wildfire is focused on a narrower mission set than the company’s MQ-9B.
“We’ve defined the top end of what medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft can do,” Alexander said. “Our MQ-9B is showing that it can do almost anything. Hunt for submarines, defend against drones, perform airborne early warning and many other missions, and that won’t change.”
“But Wildfire is different. It’s focused on core ISR, strike and similar roles. This is a high-volume, lower-cost airplane that does a few things really well.”
GA-ASI Wildfire UAS Targets Long-Range Missions
GA-ASI said Wildfire exceeds 8,000 nautical miles of ferry range.
The aircraft is also designed to carry multiple weapons and other mission payloads.
Configurations identified by the company include:
- Two Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles
- Four Joint Strike Missiles
- Other combinations of munitions
- Launched effects
- Sensors
- Additional mission payloads
GA-ASI said the aircraft can carry two Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles simultaneously over what the company described as meaningful combat distances.
Autonomous Technology Supports Collaborative Operations
Wildfire is being designed with a high degree of autonomy and collaborative operations capability from the beginning of the program.
According to GA-ASI, the aircraft will leverage technologies developed for its FQ-42A systems.
Advanced autonomy is intended to support networked collaborative control of dozens of Wildfire aircraft simultaneously.
The aircraft will also use proliferated low-Earth orbit satellite control technologies that GA-ASI said have already been demonstrated aboard several of its existing aircraft.
Wildfire Proposed for U.S. Air Force MMA Competition
GA-ASI has proposed Wildfire for the U.S. Air Force’s Massed Modular Aircraft competition within the Defense Innovation Unit.
According to the company, the program is intended to develop an alternative to the MQ-9A Reaper.
GA-ASI said Wildfire meets or exceeds the requirements included in the request.
The company also stated that its existing manufacturing infrastructure and network of suppliers, subcontractors and partners could allow Wildfire to be delivered years ahead of the FY2031 timeline identified by DIU and enable production of more than twice as many aircraft within the same period.
Commercial Applications Include Heavy Cargo Delivery
Wildfire is also being developed for non-combat operations.
According to GA-ASI, the aircraft’s increased payload capacity and stronger hardpoints could support heavy cargo delivery and other commercial activities.
The GA-ASI Wildfire UAS combines a clean-sheet aircraft design with long-range performance, modular payload capacity and autonomous collaborative capabilities as the company targets military missions alongside potential civil and commercial applications.
Source: Press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
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