News & Media

2017 Press Releases

  • RAF Reaper Flies 10 years, 100,000 Hours

    The following information was issued by the Royal Air Force (RAF) on December 12, 2017. To complement this release, a quote from GA-ASI is offered below. For further information, comments, or photos about GA-ASI's MQ-9 Reaper, please contact ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com."General Atomics is a proud supporter of the Royal Air Force," said Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

  • GA-ASI Hosts High-Tech Aerospace Innovation Event in Partnership with Starburst Accelerator

    SAN DIEGO ? 11 December 2017 ? General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), in partnership with Starburst Accelerator, a global aerospace and aviation incubator, hosted a selection committee entitled ?The Future Is Now? at its headquarters in Poway, California on December 1st. The showcase featured pitch-style presentations from 10 aerospace startups sharing technology and innovations to a cross-section of industry experts and potential investors.

  • MQ-9 Used in Successful Anti-Submarine Warfare Demonstration

    SAN DIEGO – 13 November 2017 – The remote detection and tracking of submerged contacts, such as submarines, was demonstrated using a MQ-9 Predator® B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) during a U.S. Naval exercise on October 12th. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

  • Aviation Week Program Excellence Award Presented to GA-ASI?s Gray Eagle Extended Range Program Team

    SAN DIEGO – 31 October 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) was recognized for its Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) program at Aviation Week's 16th Annual Program Excellence Awards event on October 23rd. The GA-ASI GE-ER program team won the award in the category of OEM R&D/SDD (Original Equipment Manufacturer Research & Development/System Design & Development).

  • GA-ASI Announces Collaboration with KAIST

    Project Expected to Accelerate RPA Approval to Fly in Civil Airspace SAN DIEGO/SEOUL – 18 October 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of the world?s leading universities specializing in science and technology. KAIST is host to CR2CENT, Korea's Civil RPAS Research Center (CR2CENT), ...

  • GA-ASI Signs MOU with Huneed

    SAN DIEGO/SEOUL – 18 October 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Huneed Technologies Co. Ltd.

  • MQ-9 UAS Used to Support Fire Fighting Efforts in Northern California

    SAN DIEGO, CA – 16 October 2017 – The California Air National Guard's 163d Attack Wing operating out of March Air Reserve Base is using MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with full-motion video (optical and infra-red) and ground imaging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capability, in support of CAL FIRE?s firefighting efforts in Northern California. SAR is able to see clearly though both clouds and smoke. The 163d Attack Wing supports citizens during the fires by operating two missions under ap...

  • GA-ASI Transitions to An All Gray Eagle Extended Range Production Line for the U.S. Army

    AUSA, WASHINGTON – 10 October 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) officially transitioned its production line from the MQ-1C Gray Eagle to its new long-range variant, the MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range following the completion of the last contracted MQ-1C aircraft.GA-ASI’s investment in airframe composite tooling enabled the company to start manufacturing the MQ-1C ER ahead of schedule, with its production running in parallel with the MQ-1C line. The ...

  • GA-ASI Conducts First Flight Test From Upgraded FTTC

    Unmanned Flight through Civil Airspace Covers 1,075nm Using Multiple High-Throughput Satellite Beams GRAND FORKS, N.D. – 18 September 2017 – On August 30th, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew its first test flight out of its new Flight Test and Training Center (FTTC) facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

  • GA-ASI Expands Team Reaper Australia

    Robust Australian Industry Support Set to Deliver the Only Viable Single Solution to the Australia's Multi-Mission RPA Requirements  CANBERRA – 06 September 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world's leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, today announced the expansion of its Team Reaper Australia. The team offers the only viable solution to meet the Project Air 7003 requirement and now consists of nine Australian companies providing a r...

  • MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range Flies 41.9 Hours

    Endurance Flight Marks Completion of Phase 2 Flight Test SAN DIEGO – 24 August 2017 – On August 6th MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (MQ-1C ER) aircraft completed a 41.9-hour endurance flight, exceeding the 40 hour flight test goal. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), designed and developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), flew out of El Mirage, Calif.

  • New Hangar Opens for GA-ASI

    Ribbon-Cutting Event Marks Completion of Permanent Hangar Facility in N.D. GRAND FORKS – 22 August 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) held a grand opening event yesterday for its new hangar at the Grand Sky Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Business Park near Grand Forks, North Dakota.

  • MQ-9B SkyGuardian Completes FAA Approved Flight

    Flight through Multiple Classes of Non-Segregated Airspace Represents another Step towards CertificationSAN DIEGO – 18 August 2017 – On August 16th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew a MQ-9B SkyGuardian™ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., through National Airspace, to its Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, Calif. The MQ-9B is a STANAG 4671 (NATO airworthiness standard for Unmanned Aircraft Systems)-complian...

  • Ballistic Missile Defense Conference Held at GA-ASI

    Hudson Institute Hosts U.S. and Japanese Leaders to Discuss North Korean Threat SAN DIEGO – 08 August 2017 – In late July the Hudson Institute, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, organized a two-day conference on countering the ballistic missile threat from North Korea. The conference was held on July 26-27, 2017 at the headquarters of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

  • GA-ASI Celebrates 25 Years of Aviation Innovation

    An Illustrious History of Technology, Development, and Support for the Armed Forces PARIS AIR SHOW – 21 June 2017 – 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, celebrates its 25th year anniversary with a series of employee and customer outreach activities that will continue over the next year."We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our dedicated te...

  • GA-ASI President Dave Alexander Addresses UAV Group at Paris Air Show

    Investment and Collaboration Are Key to Airspace IntegrationPARIS AIR SHOW – 21 June 2017 – Today General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) president David R. Alexander issued the following statement at the Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Conference during the Paris International Air Show.GA-ASI applauds the FAA's effort to work with industry through the recently formed Controlled Airspace Advisory Rulemaking Committee and Type Certification Projects.

  • GA-ASI Completes Design Review for USAF Block 50 GCS

    Performance Requirements Met for Advanced CockpitPARIS AIR SHOW – 20 June 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its next-generation Advanced Cockpit Block 50 Ground Control Station (GCS) at the company's Poway, Calif., facilities. Completing the CDR was a key milestone towards fielding advanced capabilities for the U.S.

  • GA-ASI Engineers Honored by AIAA

    Hettick and Ramrus Receive Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Aerospace SAN DIEGO – 14 June 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) engineers Jeff Hettick and Jordan Ramrus were recently honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) with awards for outstanding aerospace contributions. The San Diego Section of AIAA is dedicated to promoting awareness, activism, and access throughout the aerospace community.

  • MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remains Airborne for Over 48 Hours Non-stop

    Predator B Variant Sets Company RecordSAN DIEGO – 25 May 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) today announced that its new MQ-9B SkyGuardian™ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system, a "Certifiable" (STANAG 4671) version of its Predator® B product line, has set a company record with the longest endurance flight of any Predator-series aircraft. Configured in an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) "clean wing" mode, the company-owned MQ-9B aircraft took off May...

  • GA-ASI

    New Capability Emerges for RPA Operating in Contested Airspace SAN DIEGO – 10 April 2017 – 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 airborne demonstration of a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) on a GA-ASI Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Block 5 aircraft. The company-owned Predator B operated from GA-ASI's Gray Butte Flight Operations ...

  • GA-ASI Continues Gremlins Phase Two for DARPA

    Development Efforts Move From Concept to Build and Demonstration Phase SAN DIEGO – 23 March 2017 – 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 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has continued to contract the company for Phase 2 of the Gremlins program. The Gremlins program seeks to develop innovati...

  • GA-ASI Announces Japanese Collaboration at Japan Drone

    SAN DIEGO/TOKYO – 23 March 2017 – 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 during a briefing at the Japan Drone expo in Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan, that it has executed a research collaboration agreement with a consortium of Japanese industry, government, and academia groups to accelerate operational approval for M...

  • GA-ASI Launches Team Reaper Australia

    A Single Solution to the Australia?s Multi-Mission RPA Requirements GEELONG – 28 February 2017 – 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 official launch of its Team Reaper? Australia solution to the Project Air 7003 requirement, together with Australian teammates Cobham, CAE Australia, Raytheon Australia, and Flig...

  • GA-ASI Names Newest Predator B Variant

    "SkyGuardian" Certifiable RPA Demonstrated Before an International AudienceSAN DIEGO – 27 January 2017 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, tactical radars, and electro-optic and related mission system solutions, launched a "Type-Certifiable" (STANAG 4671) version of its Predator® B product line, called SkyGuardian™, this week before an audience of international dignitar...