GA-ASI also announced that its Predator/Gray Eagle®-series aircraft family set a company record and historic industry feat in 2014: over 500,000 flight hours flown, which is the equivalent of flying 1,370 hours around-the-clock every day.
“GA-ASI works diligently to deliver solutions to meet our customers’ requirements and these two achievements wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and commitment of our employees. These records are a testament to the reliability and durability, as well as the remarkable operational flexibility, of GA-ASI’s RPA family,” said Frank W. Pace, President, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI.
Predator B achieved this record on February 20 after flying 78,606 sorties. Its first flight occurred at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. on February 2, 2001. Predator B flight hours now account for approximately one-third of GA-ASI’s 3.2 million total flight hours and are increasing at an average rate of over 22,000 hours a month.
Predator B aircraft are currently logging over 700 hours a day supporting the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the Italian Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, and other customers. Missions include direct support to warfighters in world hot spots; assisting border agents in monitoring the nation’s borders; aiding first responders in the wake of natural disasters; and supporting scientists in performing Earth science missions. GA-ASI has delivered more than 230 Predator B aircraft to date and is currently building three aircraft per month, with the capacity to more than double production if needed.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, delivers situational awareness by providing remotely piloted aircraft systems, radar, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide.
The company’s Aircraft Systems business unit is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, including Predator A, Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, Gray Eagle, the new Predator C Avenger®, and Predator XP. It also manufactures a variety of state-of-the-art digital Ground Control Stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations.
The Mission Systems business unit designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and sophisticated Claw® sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and remotely piloted aircraft. It also focuses on providing integrated sensor payloads and software for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platforms and develops high energy lasers, electro-optic sensors, and meta-material antennas.
