Press Releases

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has successfully ground tested its Airborne Laser Communication System (ALCoS) by establishing a link with a satellite in Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO).  Read More...

The second in a series of demonstrations, GA-ASI partnered with industry to integrate best-of-breed long-range ISR payloads and Air Launch Effects (ALEs) on the GE-ER. The aircraft showed a persistent stand-off capability with up to 40 hours of endurance that Commanders can leverage to orchestrate forces in the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) environment.  Read More...

During the event, the Andalucían companies learned about GA-ASI’s procurement process and supply chain dynamics, and presented their capabilities for potential support for GA-ASI RPA programs.  Read More...

Cobham Services Australia announced a five-year extension to the Teaming Agreement between GA-ASI and Cobham to introduce Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into Australia.  Read More...

The flight series will continue in 2020 and show that a GE-ER equipped with long-range sensors and Air Launched Effects (ALE) is able to Detect, Identify, Locate and Report (DILR) targetable data to support Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) systems.  Read More...

“We were honored to have the HAF’s and the HCG’s support for these flight demonstrations with our MQ-9,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “The MQ-9 RPAS is already a strategic asset for NATO countries, providing mission persistence and interoperability between allies. We showcased MQ-9s maritime surveillance and the civil airspace integration capabilities for our European customers.” The MQ-9 configuration demonstrated is operational in the U.S.  Read More...

The Army awarded GA-ASI multiple contracts to upgrade the Gray Eagle ER’s avionics, datalinks and software in order to improve the UAS’s operational capability in contested environments.  Read More...

GA-ASI begins a series of demonstration flights using its MQ-9 Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The flights, being hosted by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and staged out of Larissa Air Base in Greece, showcase the maritime surveillance capabilities of the MQ-9, as well as the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid (DAA) system.  Read More...

“We have worked closely with the ADF to determine the right RPAS to meet their needs,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “MQ-9B will provide the all-weather, multi-mission support, and interoperability that the ADF requires. We look forward to working closely with our Australian industry partners to provide a highly capable RPAS to the ADF, while creating high-tech jobs in Australia.”  Read More...

GA-ASI is supporting the California Air National Guard as they provide real-time reconnaissance for California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) firefighting operations in Southern California.  Read More...

When launched from the GE-ER at maximum altitude, the glide weapon can reach extended ranges, which means it can effectively engage threats in a multi-domain operations environment while staying out the engagement zones of threat weapons.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), announced today that they are working with the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) in Greece to conduct a series of demonstration flights for European countries in December.  Read More...

“Six million flight hours is a testament to the reliability of our unmanned aircraft systems that are designed, built, and sustained by a dedicated group of skilled and innovative professionals for operations around the world,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “In our more than 25 years in business, GA-ASI has achieved a list of historic ‘firsts’ in RPA development and we have leveraged those accomplishments to better support our customer’s requirements.”  Read More...

The funding increase from $15 million to $93 million is in response to the significantly expanded payload capacity of the newly fielded MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).   Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has signed a cooperative agreement with NASA to perform a demonstration flight as part of the agency’s project to integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS).  Read More...

“Thank you to the U.S. Air Force Association for this extraordinary recognition,” said Alexander. “We’re proud to support the future generation of scientists and engineers who will drive our industry forward.” GA has been an advocate of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) and aerospace education for more than two decades through its charitable donations and outreach programs at the regional and national level.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to demonstrate the Air Force Research Lab’s “Agile Condor” capability using a MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) owned by GA-ASI. Agile Condor is a high-performance computing architecture that will be used to demonstrate artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.  Read More...

Multi-Mission Control (MMC) enables a single pilot to control multiple MQ-9s for transit operations and routine Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions using a streamlined graphical user interface and lightweight hand controller.  Read More...

The U.S. Marine Corps’ (USMC) Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) blazed a trail of firsts and was awarded the 2018 Marine Corps Aviation Association Unmanned Aircraft Squadron of the Year.   Read More...

“This completes another important milestone as we work towards the delivery of Protector to the Royal Air Force (RAF),” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We have completed more than 100 qualification test flights using our two company-owned SkyGuardian RPA.”  Read More...

“The addition of these four companies to Team SkyGuardian will further enhance the capabilities of SkyGuardian and build on our already strong business partnerships in Belgium,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has received a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization from the FAA for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations by utilizing a Ground-based Sense and Avoid system.  Read More...

“This demonstration was a complete success and has really built our anticipation and excitement about our new Protector RPA to a whole new level,” said RAF Group Captain Lyndon Jones, Protector RG Mk1 Programme Director.  Read More...

The support services include developing maintenance strategies that provide lower cost sustainment over the life cycle of the product and providing distribution and other logistical support. GA-ASI and Cobham Aviation Services have had a long-lasting relationship and are well-suited to provide world-class sustainment to the UK Protector programme.   Read More...

“With innovation in mind, we have always looked for ways to challenge the industry standard,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “Our Predator-series has evolved over the past 25 years into MQ-9 and Gray Eagle (MQ-1C), which are the most combat-proven RPA in the world.”  Read More...

“This simulated MALE RPA flight operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) was actively managed by civil ATCOs, dealing with every conceivable contingency scenario,” said David R. Alexander, president, GA-ASI. “This demonstration helps show the Air Traffic Management community that flying large RPA in civil airspace can be as safe as managing a commercial manned aircraft, when the RPAS is properly designed.”  Read More...

The new Integrated Intelligence Center (I²C) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) presents innovative ways to improve the user experience for operators of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) using automation and user experience-based design (UX).   Read More...

The MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) – designed and developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) – has now flown more than 100 test flights as development continues towards its first delivery to the Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the Protector RG Mk1 programme.  Read More...

Three finalists have been selected from GA-ASI’s Blue Magic Belgium event with the goal of supporting GA-ASI and the development of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) for Belgium. The three Belgian companies selected are AIRobot, ALX Systems, and Hexagon.   Read More...

Team SkyGuardian presents Canadian industry with business opportunities in the Canadian RPAS Project and across the global fleet of more than 400 MQ-9 aircraft flying throughout the world. To facilitate the Team’s growth, GA-ASI and Team SkyGuardian will engage industry across all regions of Canada through industry events.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) are integrating WESCAM’s MX™-20 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging system onto the SkyGuardian RPAS, as well as the MQ-9 Reaper that is currently being operated by several NATO countries.  Read More...

“We look forward to the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some of Belgium’s most innovative companies,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We’re committed to providing the best RPA to Belgian Defense and all NATO countries. To support that effort, we’re identifying and establishing relationships with companies across Belgium that can assist us.”  Read More...

Chris Dusseault, Claudia Mowery and Brandon Suarez 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  Read More...

“GA-ASI’s success is based largely on our highly skilled and dependable supply chain,” said David R. Alexander, president, GA-ASI. “We’d like to thank all our suppliers for their dedicated service and commitment to excellence, especially the 71 companies we recognized with this year’s awards.”  Read More...

The training covered new maintenance procedures, manuals and ground support equipment associated with the MQ-1C ER, which is a new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).   Read More...

The model was donated by Gray Eagle developer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and follows the $50,000 cash donation the company pledged to the Museum in 2018. The NMUSA is being readied for its official public opening in 2020.  Read More...

The Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) was used to control the complete flight of an MQ-9B SkyGuardian – including takeoff and landing – on March 12^th. This is the first time the CGCS has been used to control an entire end-to-end flight of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).   Read More...

The new facility in the high desert of southern California will be close to 150,000 square feet and be used to house and test GA-ASI’s latest Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) variant, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.   Read More...

The goal of the events – called “Blue Magic Belgium” – is to increase the number of Belgian technology companies that can provide research and development (R&D) and innovation to support GA-ASI. This outreach effort follows the Government of Belgium’s selection of GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian to meet the RPA requirements of Belgian Defense.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and its teammates NASA, the FAA and Honeywell were honored for best achievement of 2018 in the category of Commercial Aviation-Unmanned Systems. The team was recognized for conducting the first FAA-approved, no chase plane required, flight of a large Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).   Read More...

“We are proud that our fleet of MQ-1 and MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems have supported the U.S. Air Force for more than four million flight hours,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “It’s another milestone in the distinguished history of the USAF and GA-ASI.  Read More...

“GA-ASI looks forward to this collaboration with Indian industry,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. GA-ASI anticipates working with Sankhya to provide simulation and training technology in compliance with global standards, and to deliver cutting-edge training to pilots, sensor operators, and maintenance crew.  Read More...

The Block 50 GCS cockpit for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) is designed with improved capabilities through an optimized Human Machine Interface (HMI) that significantly enhances aircrew situational awareness and allows for single seat operations.   Read More...

“We’ve brought together a world-class group of companies that make up Team Reaper Australia, and the team continues to grow,” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI. “Following the Australian Government’s selection of GA-ASI to provide the Armed RPAS, Team Reaper Australia activity has increased significantly and all team members are committed to supporting ADF requirements.”  Read More...

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is acquiring SkyGuardian as part of its Protector RG Mk1 program and is scheduled for first delivery in the early 2020s. Belgium also selected SkyGuardian for its defense needs. The RPA is being considered as an option for the Australian Defence Force, who chose GA-ASI to supply the RPA system for Project Air 7003.  Read More...

“Using a portable laptop computer in conjunction with SATCOM taxi and Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability is a game-changer for our customers,” said David R. Alexander, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI.   Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH have successfully proven the performance of a recently developed Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) sensor called the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS).  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) hosted an Industry Showcase today to recognize UK companies that are contributing to operational systems such as MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and the new MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA program. The Royal Air Force (RAF) MQ-9B variant is called Protector RG Mk1.  Read More...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced today that it has teamed with five Belgium-based businesses as part of an industrial collaboration effort with the Belgian aerospace and defense industry. Team SkyGuardian Belgium includes GA-ASI, SABCA, Thales Belgium, Esterline, DronePort, and satellite communication technology company Newtec.   Read More...