Predator B flies with ATC radio
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA ASI) has flown the Predator B UAS integrated with the certified Rohde & Schwarz R&S MR6000A air traffic control radio, the company announced on 13 October.
The 48 minute flight, which took place from the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, California, saw Predator B demonstrate its ability to integrate the R&S MR6000A airborne radio, delivering VHF radio communication to and from dismounted ground users equipped with a standard VHF aviation radio.
The flight is part of work being undertaken by GA-ASI to deliver the Certifiable Predator B (CPB) UAS to European customers, and to add German and European payload capability into its Predator-series aircraft.
The R&S MR6000A supports both VHF and UHF air-to-air and air-to-ground communications. The radio is already in service on the A400M Atlas, for which it has been certified as RTCA/DO 178B (level C) and RTCA/DO 254 (DAL C) by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Linden P Blue, CEO, GA-ASI, said: ‘Integrating Rohde & Schwarz’s R&S MR6000A aboard Predator B is a big step forward in meeting the airworthiness type-certification requirements of our current and future European customers. We are excited to leverage R&S MR6000A’s capabilities to enhance Predator B’s safe flight in domestic and international airspace further.’
The next priority for GA-ASI is the integration of the radio into CPB’s design. Hardware and software upgrades and a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system featuring an airborne Due Regard Radar (DRR) for operation in non-cooperative airspace will also be integrated. Additionally, the aircraft will be designed to survive bird and lightning strikes and will be equipped with a de-icing system.
CPB initially will target NATO type-certification standards with completion of the first-article production aircraft in late 2017.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
