Predator-series RPAs hit flight hour milestone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) Predator-series family of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), has reached five million flight hours, the company announced on 9 April.
The family of aircraft has completed 360,311 missions with more than 90% of all missions flown in combat.
The Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper flight hours account for approximately 40% of flight hours and are increasing at an average rate of 37,000 hours a month.
The Predator-series family includes Predator A and Predator XP; Predator B/MQ-9B Reaper, Guardian, Predator B/MQ-9B Reaper Extended Range, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian; Gray Eagle/ER; and Predator C Avenger/ER.
Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI: ‘Five million flight hours is a testament to the reliability of our RPA systems that are designed, built and maintained by a dedicated group of skilled and innovative professionals for operations around the world.
‘Our 25-year history has produced a list of ‘firsts’ in RPA development and we have leveraged this progress to apply the latest technology and advancement in our new and improved aircraft, such as the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.’
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