Nichols Martin
General Atomics' aeronautical systems business continues to develop a multimission remotely piloted aircraft and intends to equip the new vehicle with a detect and avoid technology as part of certification efforts.
MQ-9B's DAA system will employ air-to-air radar, traffic alert and collision avoidance and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast technologies, the company said Monday.
The unmanned aircraft has reached development milestones that include a medium-altitude, long-endurance atlantic flight and demonstration with the Expeditionary Command and Control system.
Linden Blue, CEO at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., said the company designed the vehicle "to fly in non-segregated, controlled airspace."
“The development is the result of a five-year, company funded program to deliver an unmanned aircraft to meet the stringent airworthiness type-certification requirements of NATO and various civil authorities," Blue added.
The company aims to deliver the U.K. air force's first MQ-9B in the early 2020s.
