Dominique Stump
General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business will install an imagery reconnaissance pod created by Israel-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems into a Predator B/MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle flown by Italy’s air force.
The Predator B’s Multi-spectral Targeting System-B full-motion video system interoperates with the RecceLite pod to facilitate the production of geo-referenced, high-resolution digital stills, General Atomics said Thursday.
The company added it will work with the Italian air force and Rafael to conduct integration hardware tests as well as developmental and operational flight tests and system fielding work at Amendola Air Base in Italy by 2017.
Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., said imagery enhancement functions and the open payload architecture on the Predator B work to support the requirements of other customers such as NATO.
