News & Media

2015 Press Releases

  • GA-ASI Delivers Final Two RQ-1 Predators to Italian Air Force

    SAN DIEGO – 22 December 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that the Italian Air Force (ItAF) has accepted delivery of two RQ-1 Predator® RPA systems, marking final deliveries of  GA-ASI's Predator A product line."With the delivery of these aircraft, GA-ASI completes over two decades of delivering...

  • GA-ASI Executives Honored by San Diego Air & Space Museum

    Frank Pace, Tom Cassidy Inducted into International Air & Space Hall of Fame SAN DIEGO – 25 November 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that Frank W. Pace, GA-ASI's current Aircraft Systems president, and Thomas J.

  • Gray Eagle Conducts Manned-unmanned Teaming in South Korea

    UAS Passes Imagery to Apache Helicopters and Ground Forces in First-ever Missions Flown over South Korea SAN DIEGO – 18 November 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that a U.S. Army Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) recently conducted manned-unmanned teaming exercises in South Korea.

  • GA-ASI Expands Presence in Middle East and North Africa

    Company Opens New Office in Abu Dhabi DUBAI AIRSHOW – 8 November 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it opened an office in Abu Dhabi in August to support its Middle East and North African (MENA) customers. Additionally, it will support the United Arab Emirates, the first customer of the Predator? RPA -series outside of t...

  • GA-ASI Breaks Ground on RPA Training Academy

    Facility On-track for Expected 2016 Opening SAN DIEGO – 9 November 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, announced today that construction has commenced on its new, five-and-a-half acre RPA training facility at Grand Sky Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) business and aviation park in Grand Forks, North Dakota. "Today's groundbreaking of our new s...

  • GA-ASI Awarded Major U.S. Army Contract for Improved Gray Eagle

    Latest Aircraft Joins Gray Eagle, Adds Increased Endurance and Range AUSA ANNUAL, WASHINGTON – 14 October 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), radars, and electro-optic and related mission solutions, today announced that it has been awarded a full-rate production contract by the U.S. Army for 19 Improved Gray Eagle (IGE) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to be delivered by September 2018.

  • GA-ASI Flies Advanced Communications System Aboard Predator B

    Supports RPA Airworthiness Certification Requirements for European Customers SAN DIEGO – 13 October 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced the successful flight of a company-owned Predator® B integrated with a certified Rohde & Schwarz R&S MR6000A air traffic control radio. The flight lasted 48 minutes, launching from the...

  • GA-ASI Confirms Plans to Open RPA Training Academy

    Company to Stand up New Facility in North Dakota UAS SUMMIT, GRAND FORKS, N.D. – 22 September 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today confirmed plans to open a RPA Training Academy in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

  • NASA, Industry Complete Third Phase of UAS Flight Testing

    Please note the following feature story posted by NASA today. For further information, comments, or photos about GA-ASI's participation, please contact Kimberly Kasitz at +1 (858) 312-2294 or via kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com. www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/detect_and_avoid.html  

  • U.S. Air Force Fields MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range

    Reaper ER Named as Finalist in Aviation Week Program of Excellence Awards AFA AIR & SPACE, WASHINGTON – 15 September 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that its Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Extended Range (Reaper ER) RPA fleet has achieved a historic milestone with the first operational fielding of Reaper ER by the U.S. Air F...

  • NASA, Partners Test Unmanned Aircraft Systems

    Please note the following press release issued earlier this week by NASA. To complement this release, a quote from GA-ASI leadership is offered below. For further information, comments, or photos about GA-ASI's participation, please contact Kimberly Kasitz at +1 (858) 312-2294 or via kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com. GA-ASI and NASA have a long-standing relationship in working together to develop leading-edge UAS technology, and we are proud to continue this partnership, sai...

  • GA-ASI Honored By Local AIAA Chapter

    Company Receives Awards for Outstanding Aerospace Management and Contribution to the Community San Diego – June 23, 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it recently was honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) with local awards for outstanding aerospace management and contribution to the com...

  • GA-ASI Implements State-of-the-Art Software to Enhance Quality

    Company Teams With Accenture and SAP to Redesign, Improve Operational Processes PARIS AIR SHOW – June 17, 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it has implemented the first major phase of its Operational Process Integration (OPI) project. A major company-wide initiative, OPI intends to redesign and improve its operational e...

  • Italian Air Force: 10 Years of Predator®...10 Light Years Ahead...

    Please note the following article issued recently by the Italian Ministry of Defense (Aeronautica Militare Italiana [AMI]). To complement this article, quotes from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Italian Air Force leadership are offered below, along with a relevant summary. For further information, comments, or photos about GA-ASI's participation, please contact Kimberly Kasitz at +1 (858) 312-2294 or via kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com. www.aeronautica.dife...

  • CAE and GA-ASI to develop Predator UAS simulator for Italian Air Force

    Paris, France, June 16, 2015 – (NYSE: CAE; TSX: CAE) – Today at the Paris Air Show, CAE announced the Italian Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) has contracted CAE to develop and deliver upgrades and enhancements to a Predator Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Mission Trainer being developed for the Italian Air Force. Together, CAE and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) intend to develop a high fidelity UAS Mission Trainer specifically representing the Italian Air...

  • Cobham and GA-ASI extend partnership to provide UAV whole life support in the UK and Australia

    Cobham Aviation Services (Cobham) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) have today signed a Teaming Agreement to create an affiliation covering whole life support arrangements for GA-ASI products in the UK and Australia. The teaming arrangement focuses on the provision of support for the Predator® B / MQ-9 Reaper® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system currently in operation with the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as future RPA opportunities in Australia.

  • Certifiable Predator B Completes Critical Design Review

    New Predator B Variant on Track to be Certified for Flight in European Airspace PARIS AIR SHOW – 15 June 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it reached a significant milestone in its Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program to design, develop, and produce a variant of the Predator® B RPA to be certified for fli...

  • French Air Force Adds Third Reaper to Fleet

    Latest Aircraft Joins Two MQ-9 Reapers in Deployed Operations SAN DIEGO – 29 May 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it has delivered a third Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® RPA to the French Ministry of Defense. Delivered less than two months after contract award, the aircraft joins two other French Reapers in service, which to...

  • Hellads Laser Completes Development

    Lightweight, Tactical Laser Weapon System Ready for Live Fire Field Testing  SAN DIEGO – 21 May 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that the High-Energy Liquid Laser (HELLADS) completed the U.S. Government Acceptance Test Procedure and is now being shipped to the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico.

  • Gen 3 High Energy Laser Completes Beam Quality Evaluation

    HEL System Designed for Land, Sea, and Airborne Platforms SAN DIEGO – 8 April 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that an independent measurement team contracted by the U.S. Government has completed beam quality and power measurements of GA-ASI's Gen 3 High Energy Laser System (HEL) using the Joint Technology Office (JTO) Gove...

  • Supplier Excellence Award Winners Recognized by GA-ASI

    Over 40 Suppliers Receive Accolades for Superlative Service SAN DIEGO – 20 March 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that it has honored 45 suppliers with the company's annual Supplier Excellence Awards in recognition of outstanding quality and delivery performance. "A key component behind GA-ASI's success is our highly skille...

  • Predator B Achieves One Million Flight Hours

    Predator/Gray Eagle Series Also Sets Record for 2014 Flight Hours SAN DIEGO – 16 March 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that its Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® RPA fleet has achieved a historic milestone of one million cumulative flight hours, with almost 90-percent of all missions flown in combat. Additionally, GA-ASI announced ...

  • GA-ASI and SENER Team to Offer Predator B to Spain

    Partnership Supports Industrial Opportunities for Spanish Workforce SAN DIEGO – 2 March 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, and SENER, a leading Spanish engineering company, today announced that they have signed a teaming agreement that promotes the use of the multi-mission Predator B® RPA to support Spain's airborne surveillance and reconnai...

  • GA-ASI Validates Airborne Sense & Avoid Radar Functionality Aboard Predator B

    Air-to-Air Radar Tracks Multiple Airborne Targets Across a Wide Field-of-Regard SAN DIEGO – 12 February 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, announced a major technological advancement related to the integration of RPA into international and domestic airspace. GA-ASI successfully flight tested a pre-production Due Regard Radar (DRR), marking t...

  • Predator XP Sets New Company Record for Long Endurance Flight

    Long-Endurance Capability Validated; Flies for 40-Plus Consecutive Hours SAN DIEGO – 12 February 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced the successful first endurance flight of  Predator® XP, an advanced derivative of the mission-proven MQ-1 Predator RPA that has accumulated over two million flight hours since 1994. The flig...

  • Single Predator B RPA Amasses 20,000 Flight Hours

    Total GA-ASI Predator B Deliveries Nears 230 SAN DIEGO – 12 January 2015 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that a Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® RPA has reached a record 20,000 flight hours on a single aircraft, signifying the highest flight time of any Predator B. The milestone was achieved while performing a 17-hour combat mission in...