LongShot Phase 3 Contract

The LongShot Phase 3 Contract is a DARPA program awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. for approximately $94 million (roughly €102.2 million) to develop and demonstrate an air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of firing multiple air-to-air missiles. The contract covers the third and final phase of the program, which includes manufacturing a flight test vehicle and conducting flight tests. The LongShot UAV is designed to be deployed from manned fighter jets or bombers, allowing them to engage enemy aircraft targets from extended ranges while remaining at safer standoff distances, thereby increasing pilot survivability and mission effectiveness. The system uses multimodal propulsion for fuel-efficient ingress while retaining highly energetic air-to-air missiles for target engagement.