General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has received a $92.2 million contract for MQ-9 Block 30 Ground Control Station retrofits for the U.S. Air Force.

The contract, announced Friday by the Department of Defense, will provide for MD-1A Block 15 GCS to MD-1A Block 30 GCS retrofits. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif., and is expected to be completed by May 2020.

Air Force fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $24.8 million and fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $4.9 million will be obligated at the time of award.

The MQ-9 SkyGuardian, also known as the Reaper, is a larger and more heavily armed successor to the famous MQ-1 Predator drone. It is designed primarily for attack missions but can also be used for surveillance, close air support and reconnaissance.

The drone has long-range endurance and carries the advanced Multi-Spectral Targeting System. Its suite includes infrared cameras, laser designators, and video systems. It has satellite uplink/downlink capabilities that also allow sensor data to be shared across networks.

The Reaper has a high cruise speed, a flight ceiling up to 40,000 feet and can carry a larger sensor and weapons payload than its predecessors. They can be armed with laser-guided missiles and bombs like the Hellfire and GBU-12 Paveway, and GPS-guided GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions.

Related Links
UAV News - Suppliers and Technology

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Self-deploying drone pilots may hinder hurricane response efforts
Miami FL (SPX) Sep 14, 2018
Last year's hurricane season was a benchmark year for the role of drones in emergency management. Harvey, Irma, and Maria all had varying characteristics that served well to showcase the benefits that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can provide for response and recovery operations. However, the well-documented - and publicized - success of those efforts is now likely to create a new problem; well-intentioned remote pilots who self-deploy to disaster scenes hoping to help save the day. Most ... read more