เดือน: กุมภาพันธ์ 2026

SAN DIEGO, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is developing the addition of long-range standoff weapons to its top-of-the-line MQ-9B SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian®.Demand continues from naval and air warfighters for platforms that can hold targets at risk from great ranges, especially over the expanses of air and water in the Western Pacific. That's why GA-ASI engineers have begun the work of adapting MQ-9B's payload, stability, range and other features to accommodate the new generation of extended-range precision weapons."MQ-9B continues to impress in the field and we keep adding to our global customer list," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "We want to continue to build value in the aircraft by expanding into more missions. MQ-9B features extraordinary payload capacity, so it only makes sense to add to our mission sets with the ability to carry long-range weapons."So far, GA-ASI has performed all the performance analytics and is confident in MQ-9B's ability to carry long-range weapons over long distances, while providing a measure of persistence and endurance. Company engineers and others continue to refine the technical aspects of this integration and potential concepts of operation, eyeing weapons such as the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile andLong-Range Anti-Ship Missile, as well as the Kongsberg/Raytheon Joint Strike Missile.GA-ASI plans to fly at least one of these new weapons as early as 2026.Hypothetically, a mission profile might look like this: MQ-9Bs could launch from a number of friendly bases in the Western or Southern Pacific, fly to a hold point and loiter there outside a hostile power's weapons engagement zone. If the order came to release the weapons, the aircraft could launch them in coordination with other U.S. or allied operations.In addition to the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian models, MQ-9B also includes the Protector RG Mk1 that is currently being delivered to the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF). GA-ASI also has MQ-9B procurement contracts with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Taiwan and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command. MQ-9B has also been featured in various U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail.About GA-ASIGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.GA-ASI Media RelationsGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com(858) 524-8101SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

SAN DIEGO, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted its latest demonstration performing an autonomous mission out of Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California using its MQ-20 Avenger® unmanned jet and an F-22 Raptor equipped with the latest government reference autonomy software. The test, which showcased Manned-Unmanned Teaming between the F-22 and MQ-20, leveraged autonomy and the tactical data link to enable coordination between the platforms.The mission included a live engagement between the MQ-20 and the F-22 as the command aircraft flown by an onboard human pilot, highlighting the ability to receive and execute teaming commands."We appreciate the flawless execution of this mission using the government's advanced autonomous systems," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "This demo featured the integration of mission elements and the ability of autonomy to utilize onboard sensors to make independent decisions and execute commands from the F-22."The demonstration showcased Manned-Unmanned Teaming and rapid software integration between the MQ-20 and the F-22, and a tactical data link used for communication and coordination between military platforms. The MQ-20 successfully exchanged messages with the F-22, and the F-22 was able to send autonomy commands to the MQ-20 via the Autonodyne Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), directing the MQ-20 to execute tactical maneuvers and adjust waypoints, and perform Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and airborne threat engagement tasks.This demonstration highlighted the potential of CCAs to act as force multipliers for manned platforms, enabling collaboration between autonomous systems and human pilots. GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet has served as a surrogate CCA for more than five years, both before and since the arrival of GA-ASI's purpose-built XQ-67A and YFQ-42A aircraft.About GA-ASIGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®, XQ-67A, and YFQ-42A. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.GA-ASI Media RelationsGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com(858) 524-8101SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

SAN DIEGO, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is giving its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft a new name: YFQ-42A Dark Merlin.Dark merlins, deadly falcons known for their black feathers and devouring of other falcons as prey, often collaborate in groups for maximum effect against their targets. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the merlin as a "small, fierce falcon that uses surprise attacks" to bring down its prey in flight. The dark merlin is native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, often migrating into southern California, where bird spotters routinely report seeing them near the YFQ-42A's manufacturing home in San Diego.The 1962 book "Profiles of the Future" imagined global technological marvels yet to change the world, offering that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." It's no coincidence that the Dark Merlin name also reflects the wizardry of Merlin from Arthurian legend, paying homage to the somewhat supernatural new era of semi-autonomous air combat."Dark merlins are hunting machines, built for speed and aerodynamics," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "They harass other falcons for fun, and they eat what they kill. The name sums up our new uncrewed fighter perfectly."The U.S. Air Force official prefix "Y" denotes that the initial few aircraft are early, production-representative test models, while "F" denotes fighter and "Q" denotes uncrewed aircraft. When aircraft enter production, they drop the "Y" - for example, the YF-16 became the F-16 with the nickname "Fighting Falcon" - and GA-ASI expects its new CCA to become the FQ-42A with the nickname "Dark Merlin."The Dark Merlin has been stacking up milestones and achievements since GA-ASI was selected by the U.S. Air Force in April 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles for the CCA program. In August 2025, YFQ-42A delivered the U.S. Air Force its first successful CCA flight and followed that this month with the service's first CCA flight using mission autonomy software. Between those milestones, GA-ASI has built and flown multiple Dark Merlins, conducting push-button autonomous takeoffs and landings and other accomplishments as the test program continues.YFQ-42A Dark Merlin is a purpose-built CCA platform developed as part of GA-ASI's ongoing investment in next-generation autonomous combat aircraft. The aircraft's modular design enables rapid integration of mission systems. GA-ASI's autonomy architecture, demonstrated through multiple live flight tests, provides the foundation for human-machine teaming in complex combat scenarios.GA-ASI has been building and flying uncrewed jets for nearly two decades, beginning with the company-funded, weaponized MQ-20 Avenger® in 2008. Ongoing company investment in Avenger continues to yield results, as the aircraft routinely serves as a CCA surrogate for advanced autonomy development and testing in both government programs and company-funded research and development. The company's XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station jet, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, offers a cutting-edge model for autonomous collaborative platforms with advanced airborne sensing and served as a flying prototype for YFQ-42A Dark Merlin.About GA-ASIGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.GA-ASI Media RelationsGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com(858) 524-8101SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

BOSTON, MA, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Bioxytran, Inc. (OTCQB: BIXT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing breakthrough antiviral treatments, today announced it has initiated a research collaboration with the University of Georgia (UGA) as part of a $100M grant to explore the efficacy of its lead drug candidate in blocking the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu.The collaboration follows a previously announced Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) signed in March 2025 and formalizes the framework for evaluating Bioxytran’s novel galectin antagonist as a potential therapeutic for infected poultry . The research is being led by Dr. Daniela Rajao DVM, MS, PhD, a renowned expert in virology and poultry medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health at UGA .Bioxytran’s drug candidate, PHM23, utilizes a novel mechanism of action that targets galectin proteins critical to viral replication. By blocking viral spike proteins from attaching to host cells, the therapy aims to neutralize the virus and halt its spread . In vitro studies have already demonstrated the molecule's effectiveness against viruses similar to H5N1, providing a strong foundation for this new research ."The initiation of this research with the University of Georgia, a world leader in poultry health, marks a significant milestone for Bioxytran," said David Platt, CEO of Bioxytran, Inc. "The ongoing H5N1 outbreaks present a urgent threat to the global food supply and economy, requiring immediate mass culling that results in billions of dollars in losses. We believe our galectin antagonist technology offers a promising path forward—not just for containment, but for a humane and sustainable solution to protect animal health."The potential of this research has already garnered significant academic recognition. Following the establishment of the collaboration, UGA selected PHM23 as one of a handful of molecules to be featured in its grant submission to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) prestigious $100 million HPAI Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge . This inclusion underscores the scientific promise of Bioxytran’s platform in addressing one of agriculture's most pressing challenges.Current protocols for managing bird flu outbreaks often necessitate the culling of entire flocks to prevent the virus's spread. Bioxytran’s approach could offer a more effective alternative, enable rapid containment of the virus and mitigate the devastating economic impact on farmers and consumers .Bioxytran is actively seeking further partnerships with academic, industry, and government stakeholders to accelerate the development and deployment of PHM23 in response to this urgent global need .About Bioxytran, Inc. Bioxytran, Inc. is at the forefront of developing complex carbohydrate-based therapeutics to address critical unmet medical needs in virology, cancer metastasis, and oxygen transport. Its leading antiviral platform utilizes galectin antagonists to combat viral diseases. For more information, visit www.bioxytraninc.comAbout University of Georgia The University of Georgia is a land-grant and sea-grant university with a worldwide reputation for its expertise in poultry science and veterinary medicine. Its College of Veterinary Medicine and related research institutes are leaders in combating animal diseases that threaten the food supply.Investor Relations Contact: David Platt, PhD/CEO Bioxytran, Inc. 617-454-1199 david.platt@bioxytraninc.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined under federal law, including those related to the performance of technology described in this press release. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Known material factors that could cause Bioxytran’s actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements are described in the forward-looking statements and risk factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and those risk factors set forth from time-to-time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bioxytran undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required under federal securities laws. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Shoucheng Holdings Ltd. (0697 HK) accelerated its consumer robotics strategy ahead of the Lunar New Year, opening three Taozhu New Creation Hub stores in Beijing as it scales its offline commercialization network.The new locations — at Rongshi Plaza Phase II, Shougang Park, Beijing APM in Wangfujing, and Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2 (T2) — establish coverage across three high-traffic scenarios: cultural landmark redevelopment, core commercial district and major transportation hub.Management positions the rollout as a transition from pilot-stage deployment to scaled consumer penetration, structured around a closed-loop model integrating experience, sales, service and industrial empowerment.Flagship Upgrade at Shougang ParkThe Phase II exhibition hall at Rongshi Plaza serves as the upgraded flagship location.Situated near Jin’anqiao Station (Beijing Subway Line 6) and Beixin’an Station (Line 11), the store spans more than 400 square meters. It adopts a “front store, back workshop” format, adding a robotics maintenance facility co-developed with Accelerated Evolution.The front-of-house focuses on immersive product experience and high-end sales. The back-end workshop provides standardized maintenance services, addressing a gap in China’s offline robotics service infrastructure.During its National Day launch window, the store recorded average daily foot traffic exceeding 12,000 visitors in the first eight days. First-month cumulative traffic surpassed 900,000 visitors. The site also captured spillover demand from the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), lifting overall traffic at Rongshi Plaza.Wangfujing: Targeting the 18–35 Urban DemographicThe Beijing APM store is located in Wangfujing, Dongcheng District, one of Beijing’s highest-traffic retail corridors. The mall is operated by Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.The store targets consumers aged 18–35, emphasizing “trendy technology” and first-release products. The product mix focuses on lightweight, design-forward smart devices, including transformable robots, smart earphones and portable speakers.Opening-day traffic exceeded 11,000 visitors. Cumulative traffic has surpassed 60,000, with daily averages above 8,000 visitors. More than 70% of visitors fall within the younger demographic bracket.Airport T2: Travel Retail PositioningThe Terminal 2 store at Beijing Capital International Airport spans approximately 100 square meters and is located near duty-free retail clusters.Terminal 2 handles about 35 million passengers annually. The product assortment is structured around short airport decision cycles — described as a 40-minute pre-boarding window.Featured products include compact companion robots, translation devices from iFLYTEK Co., Ltd., and portable smart charging products.Average daily traffic exceeds 2,200 visitors, with international travelers accounting for roughly 18% of footfall. Interactive robot displays have driven organic social-media exposure and expanded brand visibility beyond Beijing.Spring Festival Gala Exposure Converts to Store TrafficAt the 2026 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala, humanoid robot performances became one of the event’s most discussed technology segments.Three robotics companies invested in by Shoucheng — Unitree Robotics, Noetix Robotics, and Galbot (Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd.) — appeared in featured programs.In the segment WuBOT, Unitree Robotics deployed a humanoid formation performing synchronized martial arts routines. The company highlighted 0.001-second servo response times and millisecond-level cluster synchronization, including high-difficulty aerial maneuvers.Noetix Robotics debuted consumer humanoid models “Little Naughty N2” and “Xiao Bumi” in the comedy sketch Grandma’s Favorite. The robots demonstrated anthropomorphic facial expressions and breathing-like body motion, reinforcing home-use scenarios.Galbot showcased its embodied-intelligence robot “Xiao Gai” alongside actors Shen Teng and Ma Li in The Most Unforgettable Tonight, performing fine-motor tasks including walnut cracking and clothing folding in real time.Following the broadcast, Taozhu New Creation Hub stores reported increased inquiries related to featured models. Family visitation rose during the Spring Festival holiday period.Seven-Day Holiday MetricsDuring the seven-day Spring Festival holiday:- Total traffic across three stores exceeded 130,000 visitors- Rongshi Plaza Phase II averaged 8,500 daily visitors;cumulative 59,500+- Beijing APM averaged 6,500 daily visitors;cumulative 45,500+- Airport T2 averaged 3,200 daily visitors;cumulative 22,400+Gift-oriented smart technology purchases increased during the period,reflecting a shift toward technology-focused holiday consumption.Operating Model and Data IntegrationTaozhu New Creation Hub operates more than 300 smart products across categories including family companionship, education and entertainment, healthcare, sports and leisure.The “experience + sales + after-sales + investment” framework integrates digital store management tools, including heat-zone analytics to monitor consumer behavior. Management says the model provides real-time market feedback to portfolio companies and supports product iteration.Each store plans to host no fewer than 300 annual events, including product launches, children’s programming workshops and maintenance seminars, aimed at increasing repeat visitation and customer retention.Expansion PlanShoucheng plans to open more than 20 additional stores nationwide within six months, targeting transportation hubs, high-end commercial districts, cultural landmarks and major tourist destinations.The company also intends to replicate the “front store, back workshop” service model in additional core cities and promote a “Robotics Technology Reception Lounge” concept integrating education and innovation, intelligent manufacturing, industry-finance connectivity and maintenance services.Management positions the expansion as a step toward building a nationwide offline robotics ecosystem designed to support both consumer adoption and portfolio-company commercialization. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Feb 23, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – During the Year of the Horse Spring Festival, momentum in the "Hard Tech" sector continued to surge, with the humanoid robotics industry becoming a market focal point following its stellar performance on the Spring Festival Gala stage. Shoucheng Holdings (0697.HK) has emerged as a core target for post-holiday capital market positioning due to a series of heavy-hitting moves. These include the operational launch of the Taozhu New Creation Hub - a comprehensive robotics technology experience, sales, maintenance, and service center—followed by the dual boost of Spring Festival Gala exposure and New Year's Eve livestreaming conversions. Coupled with the positive signal of continuous recent share buybacks, the company’s solid industrial layout and clear earnings growth are expected to trigger a formal valuation recovery.By establishing a closed-loop of "Offline Landing + Strategic Investment + Traffic Conversion + Buyback Support," Shoucheng Holdings has not only demonstrated its deep layout in the robotics track but has also provided the capital market with a high-certainty investment logic through concrete industrial actions and capital behavior. The window for valuation recovery has officially opened.I. Grand Opening of the Offline Complex: Solidifying the Foundation for MonetizationAs the traffic dividends from the Spring Festival Gala and livestreaming were released, Shoucheng Holdings officially launched Taozhu New Creation Hub, its flagship robotics technology retail brand. This complex captures the core of the offline smart consumption track and injects deterministic growth into Shoucheng’s performance. It serves as a solid physical carrier to convert gala traffic and livestreaming orders, marking a new stage in Shoucheng’s full-chain service layout for offline robotics commercial scenarios.Integrated Ecosystem: The Hub constructs an "Experience + Sales + After-sales + Investment" full-model ecosystem."Store-Factory" Innovation: Utilizing an innovative "front-store, back-factory" layout, it includes a robotics maintenance and repair workshop created in collaboration with Accelerated Evolution to provide one-stop services.Market Validation: With an exhibition area exceeding 400 square meters, the Hub serves as a core scenario for investee companies to implement technology and validate market demand.Strategic Store Matrix:Wangfujing APM Store: Located in a premier trendy commercial district, focusing on "Trend Tech + First-Store Economy," targeting consumers aged 18–35.Capital Airport T2 Store: Situated in a core transportation hub with 35 million annual passengers, targeting the "40-minute pre-boarding decision" window with portable and practical smart products.This layout is a key execution of Shoucheng’s "Capital + Scenario + Ecosystem" strategy. By capturing consumer demand through digital means, it provides investee companies with valuable data for product iteration, forming a virtuous cycle of "Industry + Consumption + Maintenance".II. Dominance of the Gala Trio: National-Level Endorsement of Ecosystem StrengthThe Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala featured a humanoid robot cluster performance as its most high-tech highlight. Among the four core robotics companies featured, three - Unitree Robotics, NOETIX Robotics, and Galbot - are Shoucheng Holdings' portfolio companies. This dominant presence provides national-level brand endorsement for the offline scenarios.The three portfolio companies demonstrated world-class capabilities across core tracks:Unitree Robotics: Deployed a 16-robot formation in the program "Wu BOT," performing high-difficulty martial arts. It achieved world-firsts in continuous parkour flips and rapid maneuvers (up to 4m/s) using self-developed dexterous hands.NOETIX Robotics: Earned the title of "Exclusive Bionic Humanoid Robot Partner" for the gala. Its "Xiaowantong N2" and "Xiaobumi" consumer products displayed lifelike facial expressions and synchronized breathing movements, signaling the acceleration of robots entering the home.Galbot: Debuted as the "Designated Embodied AI Model Robot". Its robot, "Xiao Gai," autonomously performed real-time tasks—such as picking up glass shards and folding clothes—driven by its "AstraBrain" Embodied AI model.This collective appearance is a result of Shoucheng's long-term deep layout, building a complete investment matrix across core components, whole units, and "intelligent brains".III. New Year's Eve Live-streaming: Immediate Traffic MonetizationOn the night of the Gala, Shoucheng Holdings launched the "PoBiren (Barrier-Breaker) Initiative" Live-streaming event, becoming the only industrial investor in the sector to achieve immediate traffic conversion. This successfully closed the loop of "Offline Landing - Stage Exposure - Online Traffic - Order Conversion".Solving Pain Points: The livestream addressed the "unreachable" nature of online consumption through product demonstrations and professional technical interpretations.Seamless Integration: It linked online orders to the Taozhu New Creation Hub for offline delivery and maintenance.Professional Branding: By sharing industry trends from an investor's perspective, Shoucheng deepened consumer trust and solidified its leadership in hard tech investment.ConclusionShoucheng Holdings has achieved a triple breakthrough in national exposure, immediate traffic conversion, and offline operations. Under the resonance of these multiple benefits and continued buybacks, the logic for both valuation and performance enhancement is further strengthened, allowing Shoucheng to lead the hard tech investment track and provide long-term stable returns to investors. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com