General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation that operates in the space industry through its Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) group. GA-EMS designs, manufactures, and tests innovative space systems, including satellites, optical communication terminals, and space nuclear technologies. They partner with organizations like the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) and Radian Aerospace, providing solutions for satellite constellations, space-to-space communication, and advanced aerospace systems.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Rheinmetall and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems signed a memorandum of understanding at Eurosatory 2026 to evaluate coproduction of Vektrex, a 155 mm guided munition.
TSIS-2 will be built by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems.
49North, a wholly owned subsidiary of MDA Space, secured a $3.7 million contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to build a secure data-sharing system for Canada’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian military drones.
General Atomics conducted a July 2025 SDA-supported air-to-space optical link demonstration with a Tranche 0-compatible Kepler satellite.
The demonstration with General Atomics and a Tranche 0-compatible Kepler satellite validated direct-to-warfighter delivery for the new architecture.
Before joining Orion Space Solutions, Gregg Burgess was Vice President and General Manager of General Atomics Electromagnetics’ Space Systems Division.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Optical Terminal Verification Testbed verified that General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ optical communication terminal meets performance, interoperability, and technical readiness thresholds for standardized satellite laser crosslinks.
The U.S. Space Force Enterprise Space Terminal program is advancing to Phase 3 after successful independent verification of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ optical communication terminal.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is the prime contractor for the Enterprise Space Terminal program.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will lead Phase 3 of the Enterprise Space Terminal program.
On April 14, 2026, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems completed the pre-ship review for its advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared payload.
The Andromeda contract award includes Anduril Industries, Lockheed Martin, Boeing’s Millennium Space Systems, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, Sierra Space, Redwire, General Atomics, Astranis Space Technologies Corp., True Anomaly, Turion Space, Intuitive Machines LLC, and Quantum Space LLC.
The Space Development Agency, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, and Kepler established a bi-directional link between a satellite and an aircraft in flight in August 2025.
Brianne Gramling is Senior Manager of Space Systems Engineering at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems.
In August 2025 the Space Development Agency, in partnership with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems and Kepler Communications, established a bi-directional optical link between a commercial satellite and an airborne terminal.
In September 2025, Kepler partnered with the Space Development Agency and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to establish the first-ever commercial bi-directional optical link between a satellite and a General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft in flight.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. set a new company record by surpassing a total of 9 million flight hours.
The Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS) was used to demonstrate the control of a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger surrogate.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew a Gray Eagle STOL unmanned aircraft on a takeoff from the South Korean amphibious landing ship Dokdo and a subsequent landing at a ground base on 2024-11-12.
The General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger surrogate was controlled from Maryland while it was located at a test facility in California.