General Atomics - Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has added Raymond Knops, Chairman of the Dutch Industry Foundation for Defence and Security (NIDV), and Thomas McSorley, General Counsel for NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), to a growing list of speakers and panelists on the agenda for the first-ever Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event being held on November 19, 2024. Other companies participating in GA-ASI’s BMN event include Brainport Development, Brabant Development Agency (BOM), SPACENED, and Lockheed Martin Ventures.

GA-ASI adds NIDV and NATO DIANA to Blue Magic Netherlands agenda

GA-ASI has organized several successful Blue Magic events in the past and is bringing that same concept to the Netherlands.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) commenced flight operations using an MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Japan buys two SeaGuardians from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

The Japan Coast Guard has signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) now has two Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operating at RAF Waddington. The second Protector has started its ground trial at RAF Station Waddington with first flight expected in August. Protector is based on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), and is specially configured for the RAF. The RAF has taken delivery of 10 of their total order of 16 Protectors from GA-ASI, with eight aircraft currently undergoing RAF crew training, test, and evaluation in the United States.

GA-ASI: second RAF Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft now Operating in Waddington

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) now has two Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operating at RAF Waddington.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) participated in the signature ceremony marking the start of the new MQ-9 International Cooperation (MIC) Support Partnership (SP) with the United Kingdom and Belgium as the founding Partnership Member Nations and General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) – the manufacturer of the MQ-9A and MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft. Other NATO and non-NATO nations will be invited to join the MIC SP as Members, Observers or Associate States.

NSPA marks start of MQ-9B support partnership with United Kingdom and Belgium

Air, NATO / By Defence Industry Europe

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) participated in the signature ceremony marking the start of the new MQ-9 International Cooperation (MIC) Support Partnership (SP) with the United Kingdom and Belgium.

The U.S. Navy’s Group Sail Exercise, held over a six-day period in Hawaiian military operating areas, featured one of the world’s most advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) — the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® supplied by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). SeaGuardian conducted Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MISR), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Long Range Fires, and simulated Battle Damage Assessment as part of Group Sail, which supported Carrier Strike Groups FIFTEEN and ONE.

GA-ASI and Lockheed Martin developing Net-Enabled Weapons capability for MQ-9B SeaGuardian

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Lockheed Martin are collaborating to provide Net-Enabled Weapons (NEW) capability for GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) confirms that its Mojave Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) destroyed static targets in live-fire tests on April 13, 2024, validating the system’s battlefield relevance and recording another milestone for the demonstrator aircraft.

GA-ASI Mojave lights up the Yuma Desert in live-fire demonstration

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

The Mojave technical demonstrator shares common systems and components with GA-ASI’s modernized Gray Eagle 25M, effectively providing an expeditionary Gray Eagle STOL capability.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is continuing its support of EagleEye multi-mode radar development with a company investment to add an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna and associated software that will increase range and deliver significant mode enhancements. AESA will be a “drop-in” hardware upgrade to the existing EagleEye radar and could be an option for the new Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) aircraft assembly when ready.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems adding AESA antenna to EagleEye radar

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

As part of the EagleEye development, GA-ASI will improve target detection range using Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML).

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is working with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to make important upgrades to their growing fleet of MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The RNLAF announced in 2023 that they will double their number of MQ-9A Reapers from four to eight and now are making upgrades to their aircraft to include capabilities such as maritime radars, a communications relay, extended range fuel tanks, electronic support measures (ESM), and weapons. The upgrades will take place incrementally over the next three years.

The Netherlands to upgrade their MQ-9A capabilities

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

The Royal Netherlands Air Force is working with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to make important upgrades to their growing fleet of MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the first time on February 28, 2024. OBSS is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) program and GA-ASI was selected in 2021 to design, build and fly the new aircraft.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems makes first flight of XQ-67A OBSS

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the first time on February 28, 2024.

General Atomics, a defence and diversified technologies company with affiliates operating on five continents, is expanding its collaborations and partnerships across Japan with new investments in the nuclear energy and rare earth elements sectors.

General Atomics expands international collaborations and partnerships with Japan

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics, a defence and diversified technologies company with affiliates operating on five continents, is expanding its collaborations and partnerships across Japan.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted the first flight of the Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aircraft System at its El Mirage, Calif. flight facility on Dec. 5, 2023. The first flight marks a significant milestone in the Gray Eagle modernization program as the U.S. Army continues to develop the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-capable GE-25Ms for U.S. Army active duty and National Guard units. The flight follows the award of an undefinitized contract on Dec. 1, 2023, not to exceed $389 million for the Gray Eagle 25M Production Representative Test Aircraft. The GE-25M is expected to be in service for the Army into the 2050’s.

General Atomics: Gray Eagle 25M makes its first flight

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted the first flight of the Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) Unmanned Aircraft System.

On December 5, 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The team completed the “first lifetime” of fatigue testing – which is equivalent to 40,000 operating hours – and represents an important step in validating the design of the airframe system. The testing is part of the aircraft certification to the NATO standard STANAG 4671, where the aircraft will ultimately be tested through three lifetimes, thereby proving the 40,000 hour lifetime of the airframe.

GA-ASI completes first lifetime for full-scale fatigues test on MQ-9B

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).