Cobham Aviation Services Australia and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced a five-year extension to their Teaming Agreement to introduce Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into Australia and to create an affiliation covering whole-of-life support arrangements for GA-ASI products.
The arrangement focuses on the provision of support for the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian® was selected by the Australian Defense Force in November 2019 as the Armed RPAS for Project Air 7003, while the MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a candidate for the Australian Border Force Future Maritime Surveillance Capability (FMSC) program.
The new Teaming Agreement was signed by Cobham Aviation Services Australia CEO, Ryan Both and GA-ASI President, David R. Alexander in Canberra on 30 January to mark the strong and enduring partnership between the two companies.
“Cobham and GA-ASI have been working in partnership for more than 15 years to promote the introduction of a MALE RPAS capability into Australia. This Teaming Agreement enables us to apply our specialist capabilities in supporting sophisticated, fit-for-purpose aerial platforms that perform critical national security missions. We look forward to continuing our work with GA-ASI particularly with support to the MQ-9B SkyGuardian,” said Ryan Both, CEO, Cobham Aviation Services Australia.
“GA-ASI strongly values the long-term and mutually beneficial partnership with Cobham. The combination of Cobham’s strengths as a key aviation services and support provider in Australia with GA-ASI proven experience as the world’s most trusted provider of RPAS, provides for a highly cost-effective capability to our Australian customers,” said David R. Alexander, President, GA-ASI.
“As the lead partner for Team Reaper Australia, Cobham will be a key contributor to the MQ-9B SkyGuardian Australian Industry Capability in Australia. We also welcome the relationship with Cobham to offer the MQ-9B SeaGuardian for future Australian Border Force operations is Australia,” he added.
