GA-ASI, MBDA to integrate SPEAR weapons onto MQ-9B and Gambit 6 drones

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) and the European missile manufacturing giant, MBDA, recently announced a joint commitment to integrate the latter’s family of SPEAR precision-guided weapons onto new uncrewed aircraft built by the American drone manufacturer, namely its MQ-9B SkyGuardian and Gambit 6 platforms.

The planned move was cemented through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked by David R Alexander, President of GA-ASI, and Chris Allam, managing director of MBDA UK, during the Farnborough International Airshow on 21 July.

As per current plans, the two firms will work together to ensure the SPEAR family of miniature cruise missiles can be employed by the MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) and Gambit 6 collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). A timeline for the completion of this integration work and relevant tests has yet to be disclosed.

Such an endeavour comes after GA-ASI worked closely with MBDA and the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to successfully integrate both the Brimstone 3 air-to-surface missile and Paveway IV laser-guided bomb onto the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) fledgling MQ-9B fleet.

Qualification testing for this was completed on 18 June at GA-ASI’s facilities in California, with the firm confirming the campaign met all the requirements for certifying the safe carriage and release of these weapons from the SkyGuardian.

How SPEAR will expand MQ-98 Protector and Gambit 6 strike capabilities

Known as the Protector RG1 in British military service, the UK became the launch customer for the MQ-9B in July 2020 after it placed an order for its first three SkyGuardian drones. A follow-on contract for an additional 13 aircraft was placed in July 2021, bringing the total order to 16 airframes.

Operated by No 13 Squadron and No 31 Squadron ‘Goldstars’ from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, the Protector fleet has replaced the UK’s MQ-9A Reaper force, which ceased operations in late-2025 after 18 years of service. While the UK was first to order the MQ-9B, the type has now secured orders by nearly a dozen nations, including Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Poland.

Meanwhile, GA-ASI is actively developing its uncrewed Gambit 6 CCA as a multi-role platform that is optimised for attack roles, such as electronic warfare (EW), suppression/destruction of enemy air defences (SEAD/DEAD) and stand-off precision strike missions – the latter being aligned heavily with the SPEAR family’s operational pedigree.

GA-ASI unveiled the Gambit 6 in November 2025 and currently plans for the platform to be available on the global export market from 2027.

Commenting on the plan to integrate SPEAR onto both the MQ-9B and Gambit platforms, Alexander said: “We’ve built an excellent business relationship with MBDA as part of the integration of the Brimstone missile onto the UK’s Protector [fleet]. So, working with MBDA to enable SPEAR on our broader MQ-9B line, and our Gambit CCA, feels like a very natural extension of our partnership.”

MBDA’s Allam added: “[RPAS] and autonomous/collaborative platforms, such as the MQ-9B and Gambit, are revolutionising modern air combat. Integrating the innovative capability of SPEAR multiplies the effect these platforms provide into [a] decisive operational advantage.”

Inside MBDA’s SPEAR and SPEAR-EW weapon family

MBDA’s SPEAR (Selective Precision Effects at Range) family is a series of compact, air-launched, network-enabled munitions that are designed to strike targets from beyond the reach of enemy air defences. While the SPEAR family is now set to be integrated onto the MQ-9B and Gambit 6, the weapons have already been developed for use by the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 and F-35B Lightning II fleets.

The core SPEAR 3 missile is a turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile that weights less than 220lb (100kg). It can strike fixed or moving land and maritime targets with high precision and low collateral damage using a combination of GPS and inertial navigation, datalink updates and an advanced seeker head.

This innovative family of weapons also includes the SPEAR-EW, an EW variant that jams or spoofs enemy radars instead of carrying an explosive kinetic warhead. The small size of the SPEAR family allows multiple weapons (including mixed loadouts of SPEAR-EW and SPEAR 3 missiles) to be carried during a single mission, increasing strike power while keeping launch platforms at safer stand-off ranges.