About Trans-Atlantic Flight
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) made the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a MALE Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) on July 10-11. GA-ASI’s capital MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA flew from the company’s Flight Test and Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford station in Gloucestershire, England. The aircraft will then be on display July 13-15 for the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) airshow being held at RAF Fairford. The flight and display will commemorate the RAF’s 100th anniversary celebration called RAF100.
To read more about SkyGuardian and the trans-Atlantic flight, click here.
FAI Press Conference
Media Booklet: UK Industry Capabilities and Contributions to the Future of MQ-9B SkyGuardian
Press Releases
Jul 11, 2018 GA-ASI SkyGuardian Completes First Trans-Atlantic Flight of a MALE RPA
Jul 10, 2018 SkyGuardian Takes Off From North Dakota On Trans-Atlantic Flight
Jun 25, 2018 GA-ASI To Fly First Trans-Atlantic Flight of a MALE RPA
Jun 12, 2018 GA-ASI DAA System Aids FAA-Approved Flight of NASA Unmanned Aircraft
Apr 6, 2018 GA-ASI Awarded FMS Development Contract for MQ-9B Protector
Jan 22, 2018 GA-ASI Demonstrates SATCOM Launch and Recovery Capability for MQ-9B
Aug 18, 2017 MQ-9B SkyGuardian Completes FAA Approved Flight
May 25, 2017 MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remains Airborne for Over 48 Hours Non-stop
In The News
FlightGlobal – RAF touts potential of Protector programme
Defense News – ‘Gamechanger’ arrives in UK after 24-hour transatlantic flight
Shephard Media – SkyGuardian lands at RAF Fairford
BBC News – Trans-Atlantic flight lands in UK
Aviation Week – SkyGuardian Completes Atlantic Crossing
National Defense – GA Variant Makes First Trans-Atlantic Flight
KVRR – Historic Flight for Unmanned Medium Altitude Aircraft Takes Off in Grand Forks
Jane’s – Protector to make transatlantic debut
AUVSI – UAS Flight with No Chase Plane points to future, NASA and GA-ASI say
Aviation Week – New Capabilities Boost General Atomics
AIN – GA-ASI Expanding Trials of MQ-9B in Controlled Airspace
FlightGlobal – General Atomics promotes un-manned MPA mission
GBP – All Eyes on Multi-Mission SkyGuardian
CDR – MQ-9B SkyGuardian Brings the Future of Unmanned Systems to JUSTAS
Videos
Gallery
High resolution images are available upon request to qualified media outlets.
To contact GA-ASI Media, please send an email to ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com
MQ-9B SkyGuardian Technical Specifications
| OBJECTIVE | |
| Perform over-the-horizon long-endurance, medium-altitude Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. | |
| CHARACTERISTICS | |
| Wing Span | 79 ft (24m) |
| Length | 38 ft (11.7m) |
| Powerplant | Honeywell TPE331-10 Turboprop |
| Max Gross Takeoff Weight | 12,500 lb (5670 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 6,000 lb (2721 kg) |
| Payload Capacity | 4,750 lb (2155 kg) across 9 hardpoints (8 wing, 1 centerline) 800 lb internal (363 kg) |
| Power | 45 kVA |
| Backup Power | 2 kW |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Max Altitude | 40,000+ ft MSL |
| Max Endurance | 40+ hr |
| Max Air Speed | 210 KTAS |
| Max Range | 6,000+ nmi |
| CONTROL/DATA LINKS | |
| Line-of-Sight | C-Band |
| Over-the-Horizon | X-, Ku-, or Ka-Band BLOS Backup Inmarsat SATCOM |
| FEATURES |
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MQ-9B SeaGuardian Mission Kit: (Optional)
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| DOWNLOADABLE LITERATURE |
Media Booklet: UK Industry Capabilities and Contributions to the Future of MQ-9B SkyGuardian
SkyGuardian and the trans-Atlantic flight