Press Releases 2018

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), the leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, is seeking to establish relationships with defense industry suppliers and related businesses in Japan.

“The certification helps us towards our goal of full integration of RPA into the National Airspace System [NAS],” said David R. Alexander, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI. “It will also help us in continuing the development of MQ-9B for our customers, the Royal Air Force and Belgian Defense.”

General Atomics today announced the opening of a new office in New Delhi, and that Mr. Pratesh Gandhi will serve as Director of India Strategic Development with responsibilities for directing business and strategic outreach efforts for General Atomics in India.

“We continue on a path towards integrating RPA into non-segregated national and international airspace, where they can fly safely alongside commercial aircraft. To achieve that goal, we are producing STANAG-compliant Ground Control Stations in addition to STANAG-compliant SkyGuardian aircraft."

“We look forward to providing our unmanned aircraft systems to meet Belgium’s mission requirements, while also supporting the NATO Alliance,” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI.  “We are also eager to work with our industrial partners in Belgium on a host of activities ranging from manufacturing to maintenance.”

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has been advised that, following consideration by the Australian Government, it has been selected to provide the Armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft System under Project Air 7003 for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

“We thank NASA, the FAA, Honeywell and other collaborators who supported the successful June 12^th flight of NASA’s Ikhana MQ-9 through the NAS using our Detect and Avoid AESA radar system. We also thank Aviation Week for honoring this achievement with a Laureate Award.”

The successful test opens the door for MQ-1C ER initial fielding to the U.S. Army Intelligence & Security Command (INSCOM) and Special Operations Command (SOCOM), followed by units from Forces Command (FORSCOM).

The second MQ-9B SkyGuardian gives the GA-ASI program team another aircraft to perform important development testing and demonstrations. New capabilities that weren’t available when the first aircraft was completed in 2016...

The new Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to enhance mission capability.

MQ-9 Reaper Selected as Featured AircraftSAN DIEGO – 14 September 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is a three-star sponsor for this year’s Air Force Marathon being held on Saturday, September 15, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to the sponsorship, the GA-ASI-developed Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has been selected as the featured aircraft for the marathon.“We are very proud to su...

The inclusion of Sentient Vision further reinforces Team Reaper Australia as the only viable solution to meet the Project Air 7003 requirement, which now consists of ten Australian companies providing a range of innovative...

This growth from 5.5 acres to 20 acres will benefit our customers and strengthen our commitment to the Grand Forks community by building out our test and training capacity.

The French Air Force operated two of its MQ-9 Reaper^® simultaneously in support of France’s Bastille Day events, one over Paris and the second over Cognac, on July 14th. The “French Reapers,” Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) assisted French authorities...

GA-ASI is proud to announce the completion of the fourth wind tunnel test of its MQ-25 design. MQ-25 is the U.S. Navy’s program to develop an unmanned refueling tanker...

SAN DIEGO – 25 July 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has honored 13 suppliers with the company’s annual Supplier Excellence Awards. The awards recognize outstanding quality and delivery performance.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) concluded performance testing of the arresting hook Hold Down Damper (HDD) for its proposed MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling aircraft for the U.S. Navy...

Tails for Predator B Series Aircraft to be Built in the UKFARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW – 17 July 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) and GKN Aerospace have declared their intent to collaborate on composite tails for GA-ASI’s Predator® B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) series via a Letter of Interest (LOI) signed here today.“We are pleased to expand our relationship with GKN Aerospace as part of our growing industrial collaboration team in the UK,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We...

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to meet the UAS requirements of the Royal Netherlands Air Force,” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI. “We are committed to providing a NATO-interoperable solution that enhances the ISR capabilities of the Netherlands and the Alliance.”

In an effort to increase flexibility for its customers throughout the world, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) announced today that MQ-9B will be able to utilize both the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and European Galileo satellite constellation for its navigation systems. 

GA-ASI SkyGuardian made history as it landed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK and became the first MALE RPA to successfully complete a trans-Atlantic flight. The GA-ASI-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian took off from Grand Forks, North Dakota...

July 10, 2018 - a Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) took off from Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA on the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a MALE RPA.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is using an integrated fuel tank structure to maximize fuel offload for the proposed MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling aircraft for the U.S. Navy.

SAN DIEGO – 28 June 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) today announced that it has successfully flown its MQ-25A surrogate aircraft – a Predator C Avenger – outfitted with a representative set of mission payloads, including Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Automatic Identification System (AIS), and Mission Processing. MQ-25 is the U.S.

SAN DIEGO – 25 June 2018 – On July 10-11, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) plans to make the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). GA-ASI’s company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA is scheduled to fly from the company’s Flight Test and Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA, to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK.

Conclusion of successful first large-scale RPA flights in JapanTOKYO – 21 June 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) today announced that the Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has concluded the first large-scale demonstration flights in Japan. The demonstration flights, which took place from 10 - 23 May were intended to promote the civil and scientific applications of the RPA."We thank the Mayor of Iki and the many other public and private stakeholders who made this d...

Represents another Important Step towards Airworthiness CertificationSAN DIEGO – 19 June 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) used its second full-scale MQ-9B to conduct successful lightning tests at its facility in Poway, California last month. The test was conducted jointly between engineers from GA-ASI and NTS Pittsfield, a recognized leader in the development of sophisticated lightning protection systems for the aerospace industry.

SAN DIEGO – 12 June 2018 – A Detect and Avoid (DAA) avionics system developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) was the key technology that enabled an unmanned aircraft flight through the National Airspace System (NAS) after taking off from southern California today. The DAA system installed on Ikhana, a NASA-owned Predator® B/MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), enabled the UAS to meet the FAA’s 14 CFR 91.113(b) requirement to “see and avoid” other aircraft during today’s f...

Dee Wilson and Robin Snider Receive Awards for Outstanding Contributions to AerospaceSAN DIEGO – 7 June 2018 – Dee Wilson and Robin Snider of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) were honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) with awards for outstanding contributions to aerospace at an event on May 10th. GA-ASI is a leading employer in the San Diego area and manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-opti...

GA-ASI/P&W team completed its first powered run of the PW815 with the GA-ASI MQ-25A inlet and exhaust configuration. The test met all objectives and collected extensive data that the team is now evaluating.

A Single Solution to Canada’s Multi-Mission RPAS Project Requirements also brings long-term growth, exports and jobs to key areas of Canadian IndustryOTTAWA, CANADA – 29 May 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and related mission systems solutions, today announced the official launch of Team SkyGuardian™ Canada, consisting of Canadian teammates CAE Canada, MDA, and L3 WESCAM. The team is combining the best...

IKI, Nagasaki, Japan – 14 May 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a global leader in Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), gave the community of Iki City and Nagasaki Prefecture a “Public Day” demonstration of its Guardian RPA on May 13. Approximately 300 people visited Iki Airport and met the GA-ASI staff.The demonstrations, which officially began on Thursday, consist of approximately 10 five-hour test flights over a three week period out of Iki Airpor...

Flights of first large-scale RPA conducted off Iki IslandTOKYO – 09 May 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) today announced the first flight of the Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in Japan during an opening ceremony on on Iki Island. The demonstration flights, taking place over the next three weeks, intend to promote the civil and scientific applications of the RPA."We thank the Mayor of Iki and the many other public and private stakeholders for t...

Flights Will Be Conducted in Cooperation with Iki City, Nagasaki PrefectureTOKYO – 17 April 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a global leader in Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), announced today that it will conduct maritime surveillance flight demonstrations in May 2018 using the GA-ASI manufactured MQ-9 Guardian RPA. The Guardian will collect data and conduct scientific research while operating from the island of Iki, in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture.

SAN DIEGO – 16 April 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully demonstrated aircraft carrier deck handling to include taxi capability and transition to the launch and recovery phases using a Predator® C Avenger® jet aircraft as a surrogate. As part of the proposed MQ-25 solution, GA-ASI has demonstrated that the new carrier-based unmanned tanker can integrate with the complexities of existing flight deck operations.“MQ-25 will need to i...

GA-ASI Sets RPA Industry Record With Help From Worldwide Customers BaseSAN DIEGO – 9 April 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) today announced that its Predator®-series family of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), encompassing Predator, Predator B, Gray Eagle, and Avenger® lines, has achieved a historic industry milestone: five million flight hours. The milestone was achieved on April 4, with 360,311 total missions completed and more than 90 percent of al...

SAN DIEGO – 06 April 2018 –General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is pleased to announce the recent award of a $81M Foreign Military Sales contract by the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for the United Kingdom (UK) MQ-9B PROTECTOR unmanned aircraft system programme. This contract provides for integration and component level testing for UK specific enhancements to support the MQ-9B PROTECTOR programme.

SAN DIEGO – 05 April 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has set a new endurance record with its Avenger® Extended Range (ER) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). On January 24-25, the next-generation Avenger ER flew 23.4 continuous hours in a representative Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) configuration while carrying out a simulated reconnaissance mission.

UMEX, Abu Dhabi –02 March 2018 –The Predator XP/RQ-1E Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flew above the tarmac of Al Ain Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of a “Live-Fly” event. The Live-Fly was held on February 27th and focused on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that support the defense and security sectors. The event was a part of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) held in Abu Dhabi.

SAN DIEGO – 13 February 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) is proud to announce its MQ-25 Stingray offering to the U.S. Navy in collaboration with a range of highly regarded industry partners that represent the best in American aerospace.GA-ASI has designed a purpose-built MQ-25A Stingray, optimized for the tanking mission and providing exceptional fuel give, that will more than double the range of the Carrier Air Wing.

SAN DIEGO – 22 January 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully demonstrated its latest Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) using a Satellite Communications (SATCOM) data link for its MQ-9B SkyGuardian™/SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The demonstration also included the first SATCOM taxi of the MQ-9B.