Mar 16, 2015 ASDNews Source : General Atomics

    Predator/Gray Eagle Series Also Sets Record for 2014 Flight Hours

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that its Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® RPA fleet has achieved a historic milestone of one million cumulative flight hours, with almost 90-percent of all missions flown in combat.

Additionally, GA-ASI announced that its Predator/Gray Eagle®-series aircraft family set a company record and historic industry feat in 2014: over 500,000 flight hours flown, which is the equivalent of flying 1,370 hours around-the-clock every day.

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AMITYVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2015 – Exelis

Exelis (NYSE: XLS) recently received a follow-on contract valued at more than $27 million from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to continue producing and supplying the BRU-71/A ejector rack for the Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system.

Under the contract, Exelis will produce 619 BRU-71/A units for U.S. Government MQ-9s. The BRU-71/A is a pneumatic carriage and release system that uses compressed air rather than pyrotechnic cartridges to deploy payloads. The use of pneumatic technology reduces wear-and-tear and overall system maintenance and life-cycle costs.

“Unmanned and remotely piloted platforms are important to an increasingly wide range of missions,” said Pete Martin, vice president and general manager of the Exelis electronic attack and release systems business. “It is essential that the technologies they rely on, like our carriage and release systems, are designed to enhance their performance and endurance to support mission success into the future.”

Adaptable to a number of aircraft, the BRU-71/A delivers significant advanced benefits compared with previous-generation ejector racks. It is one-third the weight of existing racks in its class and offers ease of loading via independent, self-latching hooks. Additionally, it eliminates the use of pyrotechnic impulse cartridges and the resultant cleaning and maintenance actions and provides a high-reliability pneumatic in-flight lock.

This award is the third BRU-71/A follow-on production contract for Exelis. The first, for 208 units, was received in February 2011 and the second, for 520 units, was received in 2013. Deliveries of the latest batch will begin in October 2015 and will be completed in August 2016. Contract work is performed at the Exelis facility in Amityville, New York.

About Exelis
Exelis is a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defense and information solutions company that leverages a 50-year legacy of deep customer knowledge and technical expertise to deliver affordable, mission-critical solutions for global customers. We are a leader in positioning and navigation, sensors, air traffic management solutions, image processing and distribution, communications and information systems, and focused on strategic growth in the areas of critical networks, ISR and analytics, electronic warfare and composite aerostructures. Headquartered in McLean, Va., Exelis employs approximately 10,000 people and generated 2013 sales of $4.8 billion. For more information, visit our website at www.exelisinc.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Predator and Reaper are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

June 26, 2013 by Zach Rosenberg – FG

Washington DC - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced its intent to certify the Predator B unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to European and NATO standards.

The Predator B, called the MQ-9 Reaper in US military service, has been sold abroad to both the United Kingdom and Italy. The aircraft is in competition for service in Germany, and rumoured to have already won a contest in France despite lack of official confirmation.

"It is imperative that we ensure airworthiness certification of Predator B both at home and abroad as coalition forces withdraw from Afghanistan and nations transition mission focus to protection of the homeland and other civil uses," says General Atomics chairman Neal Blue.

UAVs are not currently allowed to fly in European airspace without significant restrictions. How European nations intend to integrate UAVs into civilian airspace remains unclear, but pressure is growing to include them for both military and civil uses. The modifications to be made are unclear, but partner RUAG will help define and implement them.

General Atomics did not respond to immediate questions.