UV - Unmanned Vehicles
Second MQ-9B SkyGuardian flies
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) second MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA (aircraft YBC02) has completed its first flight at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, the company announced on 3 October.
The second aircraft's improved capabilities over the first aircraft include lightning protection, an upgraded avionics and software suite and a de-icing system. The new capabilities have been included as part of MQ-9B’s roadmap to become the first RPA to be certified to fly in civil airspace.
The upcoming test schedule for YBC02 includes further flight envelope expansion testing, testing of the certified redundant control module, flight controller updates and testing of the certifiable ground control station.
The MQ-9B is the latest evolution of GA-ASI’s Predator B system. GA-ASI named its baseline MQ-9B aircraft SkyGuardian and the maritime surveillance variant SeaGuardian.
More from Unmanned Vehicles
-
Leonardo opens new facility in Pisa
Leonardo has opened a new facility in Pisa, Italy for the development and production of the AWHERO rotary unmanned air system (RUAS), the company announced ...
-
Nevada UAS test site selected for NASA project
Nevada’s UAS test site has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Technical Capability Level 4 ...
-
Drone Aviation upgrades US Army’s WASP aerostat
Drone Aviation has commenced the communications upgrade on the US Army’s Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP) tactical aerostat. The WASP upgrade is designed to maximise ...
-
Terra Drone conducts power line inspection using UAS
Terra Drone has successfully conducted a long-distance power line inspection for Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and a power energy distributor in Poland and completed ...
-
Norway seeks VTOL UAV for coast guard vessel testing
A tender has been issued seeking a VTOL UAV which will be used for the testing of its potential to carry out surveillance from a ...
-
Unifly, Terra Drone India partner to support UTM
Unifly has partnered with Terra Drone India to support UAS traffic management in India, the company announced on 13 February. India also announced a draft ...