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Paris Air Show 2025: GA-ASI unveils the PELE air-launched UAV

16th June 2025 - 16:50 GMT | by Lucy Powell, Matty Todhunter in Paris, France

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Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of powerful natural forces in the Pacific, has inspired the aircraft (Photo: GA-ASI)

The air-launched PELE has been designed to extend the sensing capabilities of the MQ-9B and its user service through various payloads.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has unveiled the Precision Exportable Launch Effect (PELE) at the Paris Air Show 2025.

The small UAV has been designed to extend the sensing capabilities of a mothership aircraft; as such, it can be fitted with an onboard electro-optical infrared sensor for full-motion video. It can also host other sensors and features an internal stowage.

The attrition-tolerant aircraft is designed to be used in contested airspace, assessing a hostile force’s order of battle or detecting and precisely geo-locating anti-air systems. It has an 11-foot wingspan, 9-foot length and an MTOW of 250lbs. It is powered

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Lucy Powell

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Lucy Powell


Lucy Powell is Shephard’s Air Reporter. An award-winning journalist with over four years in …

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Matty Todhunter

Author

Matty Todhunter


Matty Todhunter is the Air Desk Lead & Senior UAV Analyst for Defence Insight. He won …

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