General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is planning to deploy a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) from the SkyGuardian series to the UK in summer 2021. This is intended to demonstrate the versatile operational capability of the RPA. The demonstration to the NATO allies is carried out with the support of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The company's proprietary MQ-9B will be equipped with capabilities for maritime operations, including a multimodal surface search radar for maritime surveillance with Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver and a high-definition/full-motion video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. The demonstration will build on previous GA-ASI customer demonstrations, such as the SkyGuardian's first transatlantic flight in 2018, the maritime demonstration in Greece in 2019 and last year's evaluation flights in Japan.
The series of civil and military capability demonstrations is expected to begin at the Royal Air Force's Waddington Air Base in July 2021, culminating in the MQ-9B's participation in the UK-led Joint Warrior exercise. This will demonstrate how maritime capabilities can be integrated with other air, sea and land-based platforms. The SkyGuardian flights will further develop GA-ASI's revolutionary Detect and Avoid (DAA) collision avoidance system, enabling Protector operations in general civil airspace in the UK.
MQ-9B has a flight endurance of over 40 hours and can take off and land automatically under SATCOM control. It has proven its collision avoidance system for operation in civil airspace. The MQ-9B is the result of GA-ASI's own future-oriented investment in an RPA that fully fulfils the stringent airworthiness certification requirements of various military and civil authorities.
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected the MQ-9B SkyGuardian for its Protector programme and signed a production contract for deliveries to the Royal Air Force in 2020. In addition, the SkyGuardian system was selected by the Australian Defence Force as part of Project Air 7003. The Belgian Ministry of Defence has also opted for GA-ASI's SkyGuardian.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a subsidiary of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative remote pilot aircraft (RPA), radar, electro-optical and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and Lynx® multimode radar. With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI offers mission-capable, long-range aircraft systems. They feature integrated sensors and data link systems required for endurance flight and rapid situational awareness. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, provides pilot training and support services, and develops metamaterial antennas. Further information can be found at here.
Lynx, Predator, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc
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