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General Atomics

US

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.

commercialFounded 1955
History · 2 eventsJan 1, 1986 · Blue family acquires General Atomics
San Diego, California, United States
ga.com
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Organization history

Identity changes, mergers, acquisitions, splits, and transferred business lines.

2 events

  1. Jan 1, 1986Acquisition

    Blue family acquires General Atomics

    Source
    Predecessor
    General Atomics
    Successor
    General Atomics
    Event context

    General Atomics (by then jointly owned via Gulf Oil/Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell interests) was sold in 1986 to a company owned by brothers Neal Blue and Linden Blue, who transformed it into a major defense/unmanned-systems contractor (Predator/Reaper drones) while retaining the General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) space systems business. Remains privately held by the Blue family.

  2. Jan 1, 1967Divestiture

    General Dynamics sells its General Atomic division to Gulf Oil

    Source
    Predecessor
    General Atomics
    Seller
    General Dynamics
    Event context

    General Atomic was founded July 18, 1955 in San Diego by Frederic de Hoffmann (with Edward Teller and Freeman Dyson) as a division of General Dynamics for nuclear-technology research. Gulf Oil acquired the division in 1967 (operating as Gulf General Atomic, then Gulf Energy & Environmental Systems); Royal Dutch Shell became a $200M partner in 1973, and the company was renamed General Atomics Company in Jan 1974.

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