MQ-9B SkyGuardian
remains airborne for more
than 48 hours non-stop

   General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced May 25          ASI. “GA-ASI continues to push the envelope with versatile,                                                           General Atomics Aeronautical Systems photograph
that its new MQ-9B SkyGuardianTM remotely piloted aircraft, a     reliable, cost-effective and combat-proven RPA systems and
“Certifiable” (STANAG 4671) version of its Predator® produce      sensors, and this latest feat is testament to our industry legacy.”         Get the Brand New
line had set a company record with the longest endurance flight                                                                           Aerotech News App
of any Predator-series aircraft.                                     Development of MQ-9B began in 2012 as in internally-funded
                                                                  effort. The endurance flight is the continuation of an exception-                  AEROTECH NEWS
   Configured in an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnais-     ally efficient test program that began with the successful first                       AND REVIEW
sance (ISR) “clean wing” mode, the company-owned MQ-9B            flight last November. GA-ASI is currently building their com-
aircraft took off May 16 from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving     pany-owned aircraft and plans to deliver the first production        Latest News • Veteran resources • Military Discounts
Grounds, Ariz., with 6,065 pounds of internal fuel. The aircraft  aircraft next year.
flew between 25,000 and 35,000 feet for the duration of the mis-                                                                                search for Aerotech News
sion and landed 48.2 hours later on March 18 with 280 pounds         The SkyGuardian version of the “Certifiable” Predator B has
of reserve fuel.                                                  been designed to operate under the stringent of airworthiness
                                                                  requirements of non-military airspace. The weaponized variant
   The company’s previous endurance record was held by Preda-     of the system is being acquired by the United Kingdom’s Royal
tor XP, which flew 46.1 hours in February 2015.                   Air Force under the Protector program. A maritime patrol vari-
                                                                  ant, SeaGuardianTM, is designed to support open-ocean and lit-
   “The long-endurance flight is not only a significant achieve-  toral surface surveillance. All their variants are designed to fly
ment for our MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft but also a very timely    in excess of 35 hours with airspeeds up to 210 knots and reach
landmark event for our company as we celebrate 25 years of        altitudes of more than 40,000 feet.
aviation innovation this year” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-

June 2, 2017 • Volume 31, Issue 9                                 Serving the aerospace industry since 1986                            Use your smartphone to connect to
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