Category Archives: Military UAS

GA-ASI Completes First Protector Unmanned Aircraft

On September 25th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the first flight of the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), the fourth MQ-9B SkyGuardian air vehicle (the first three MQ-9B air vehicles are company-owned assets supporting the certification qualification). Continue reading

Northrop Grumman Gets $9M US Navy Triton Retrofit Contract

US Navy MQ-4C Triton taxis at Andersen Air Force Base on April 29, 2020

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,018,804 firm-fixed-price modification (P00023) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-successive-target contract N00019-17-C-0018. Continue reading

GA-ASI Conducts Sparrowhawk SUAS Flight Tests

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted captive carry Sparrowhawk Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) flight demonstrations on September 16-17, 2020. The Sparrowhawk aircraft is designed as an airborne launch and recovery demonstrator aircraft tailored to fit GA-ASI platforms, and is focused on Advanced Battle Management System’s attritableONE technologies. Continue reading

USAF Global Hawks Get New Sensors

Global Hawk takes off equipped with a MS-177 multi-spectral camera system

Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered a pair of sensors to enhance the capability of its Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance autonomous aircraft system. Enhancements include the deployment of the MS-177 multi-spectral camera system to provide additional high resolution imaging capability for operational users. Continue reading

Israel Aerospace Industries Acquires 50% of BlueBird Aero Systems

Left to Right: Nimrod Sheffer, IAI CEO & President and Ronen Nadir, CEO of BlueBird Aero Systems

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has signed an agreement to acquire 50% of the equity of BlueBird Aero Systems. Bluebird, a UAS developer and integrator in the small tactical arena, has been providing its solutions to Israeli forces and worldwide customers for close to two decades. Continue reading

USAF Awards $7.4 Billion Ceiling MQ-9 Reaper Contract

An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flightline as the sun sets at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 20, 2019

In an effort to field MQ-9 Reapers faster and meet an increasing operational demand for the aircraft, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office awarded a $7.4 billion ceiling Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution (ARES) contract to General Atomics Sept. 17. Continue reading