Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience

US Army Catches ‘Air-Launched Effect’ Drones in Mid-Air

Area-I Altius launching from UH-60 Black Hawk

The US Army for the first time caught and recovered Area-I Altius “air-launched effects” drones in mid-air using a quadcopter during Project Convergence exercises in August and September. Continue reading

European Maritime Safety Agency Tests RPAS in Mediterranean

Aiming to test the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in enhancing the maritime awareness picture in the French Mediterranean Sea, Secrétariat Général de la Mer requested the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to set-up a multipurpose maritime surveillance operation, having the Navy (Marine Nationale) and customs (Douanes) as the strategic and tactical leaders of the operation. Continue reading

Rosetta Echo Advanced Payloads Pod Successfully Tested on MQ-9

SkyGuardian

In conjunction with the Air National Guard (ANG), the Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC) and Ultra Electronics, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) successfully completed initial operational assessment of the Rosetta Echo Advanced Payloads (REAP) pod on an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). Continue reading

GA-ASI Completes First Protector Unmanned Aircraft

On September 25th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the first flight of the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), the fourth MQ-9B SkyGuardian air vehicle (the first three MQ-9B air vehicles are company-owned assets supporting the certification qualification). Continue reading

First Responders Test Jet Suit in UK’s Lake District

A collaboration between Gravity Industries, which has developed and patented a 1,050 brake horsepower Jet Suit, and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), has resulted in a test flight in the heart of the Lakes District pushing the boundaries of emergency response.

GA-ASI Conducts Sparrowhawk SUAS Flight Tests

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted captive carry Sparrowhawk Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) flight demonstrations on September 16-17, 2020. The Sparrowhawk aircraft is designed as an airborne launch and recovery demonstrator aircraft tailored to fit GA-ASI platforms, and is focused on Advanced Battle Management System’s attritableONE technologies. Continue reading