General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has demonstrated its latest Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) using a Satellite Communications (SATCOM) data link for its MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The demonstration also included the first SATCOM taxi of the MQ-9B. This capability will eliminate the need for a ground control station and pilot/ flight crew to be located at the aircraft’s base which will drastically reduce airlift requirements when the RPA is “forward deployed.”
The SATCOM-only Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) operations capped another positive year for MQ-9B development, which included an endurance flight of more than 48 hours in May 2017 and the first FAA-approved flight for a RPA in non-segregated airspace in August 2017. The MQ-9B will become the first RPA with SATCOM LRE functions when the MQ- 9B Protector is delivered to the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) in the early 2020s.
The demonstrations were conducted in December 2017 using GA-ASI’s capital MQ-9B SkyGuardian. The supervisory crew and Ground Control Stations (GCS) operated out of the company’s Gray Butte GA-ASI demonstrates SATCOM launch and recovery capability for MQ-9B Flight Operations Centre near Palmdale, California., and the aircraft was flown out of Laguna Army Airfield near Yuma at Arizona. Using only a SATCOM datalink, the team successfully taxied the aircraft and initiated six auto take-off and landing events.
SATCOM ATLC enables taxi, launch and recovery operations from anywhere in the world and will reduce required aircrew manpower and LRE footprints. With trained RPA aircrew only required at the mission control element GCS location, the overall operating cost of the RPA is reduced. It also enables rapid self-deployment of aircraft to any global runway with a Global Positioning System (GPS) surveyed file.
RAF Reaper “flies 10 years, over 100,000 hours”
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Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) stated “For the past 10 years, the UK MQ-9 Reaper fleet has operated over 100,000 flight hours, providing persistent, armed surveillance of the battlefield that assists military leaders in making informed operational decisions. GA-ASI looks forward to delivering the latest MQ-9 version to the RAF in the form of the new MQ-9B PROTECTOR.”
The RAF Reaper Force has reached two significant milestones. The fleet of remotely piloted aircraft systems has now been serving on coalition combat operations for 10 years during which time it has flown 100,000 hours. The milestone of 100,000 hours of flying supporting coalition combat operations was reached on 4 December 2017 and equates to over 11 years airborne or travelling around the world 550 times. The ISTAR Force Commander, Air Commodore Dean Andrew, stated, “The RAF Reaper Force has now been operational for 10 years, during which it has amassed 100,000 hours of crucial support to UK and coalition combat operations in a variety of roles. The ability of Reaper to discretely observe and monitor enemy activity for lengthy periods of time provides commanders with a hitherto unheralded view of the battlespace.” |