Peter Graham
General Atomics’ aeronautical systems business has completed the initial flight of a second MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft at a military airport in Yuma, Ariz.
The company said Tuesday its MQ-9B features new technologies that were not present in the first unit produced two years ago such as updated avionics, software package and de-icing and lightning protection systems.
The flight took place on Sept. 26Â at Laguna Army Airfield.
David Alexander, president of aircraft systems at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., said the company aims to deliver the new RPA to its first customer in the early 2020s.
MQ-9B, a variant of the Predator B, flew from Grand Forks, N.D. to a British air force station in England during its maiden trans-Atlantic voyage in July and set a record for the Predator series when the aircraft flew more than 48 consecutive flight hours last year.
GA-ASI developed SkyGuardian through a company-funded project to address military and civil airworthiness requirements.
