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
Category Archives: Military UAS
Northrop Grumman Gets $9M US Navy Triton Retrofit Contract
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
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
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
Russia Uses ‘Swarm Of Drones’ in Military Exercise
Three models of drones – Forpost, Orlan-10 and Eleron-3 – were pooled into one group for participation in drills during the command and staff exercise Kavkaz-2020, the Russian Defense Ministry told the media on Thursday. Continue reading
TAI Aksungur Flies 28 Hours with Full Ammunition
Aksungur, a domestically produced medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), completed a 28-hour-long flight last Thursday. It was the first time the aircraft flew with a payload at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters). Continue reading
USAF Awards $7.4 Billion Ceiling MQ-9 Reaper Contract
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







