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The prime has rolled out a new line of advanced UAS platforms aimed at delivering next-generation combat solutions.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has unveiled a new category of ‘future-forward’ unmanned aircraft systems, aimed at delivering information dominance and airspace supremacy.
The new ‘Evolution’ line of advanced UAS platforms is billed as an advanced, affordable, attritable and autonomous solution for next-generation combat power
Evolution builds on GA-ASI’s existing Predator Class and Mojave Class offerings — marking the third GA-ASI aircraft class featuring short-take-off and landing (STOL) capability.
Ultimately, the new line would be tailored to meet the needs of the US Air Force’s vision for its future force, while also delivering new UAS concepts such as Defender, Sparrowhawk and the recently announced Gambit.
“We’re continuing to grow and respond to the rapidly changing world,” GA-ASI president David Alexander said.
“As we celebrate our 30-year anniversary as a company, our new Evolution-series aircraft will merge our unique heritage of advanced and affordable UAS technologies with innovative technologies for the future.
“We’re looking ahead to new concepts and never-before-seen aircraft that meet the needs of our customers today and tomorrow.”
The launch of the Evolution line comes amid the company’s recent inroads in the anti-submarine warfare (ASSW) space.
GA-ASI recently completed development and test of the self-contained ASW capability for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
In late November 2020, GA-ASI successfully demonstrated an ‘A’ size sonobuoy carriage, release, process and control from a company-owned MQ-9A Block 5 on a US Navy Pacific test range.
Using a SATCOM link, GA-ASI remotely processed bathythermal and acoustic data from deployed ‘A’ size Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR-AN/SSQ-53G), Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System (DICASS-AN/SSQ-62F) and Bathythermograph (BT-AN/SSQ-36B) sonobuoys and accurately generated a target track in real-time from the Laguna Flight Operations Facility located at Yuma Proving Grounds.
The MQ-9A Block 5 successfully deployed one BT, seven DIFAR, and two DICASS buoys to initiate prosecution and continuously track a MK-39 EMATT (Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target) over a three-hour period.
Target track was generated using General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada’s industry-leading UYS-505 Sonobuoy Processing Systems.
GA-ASI is developing this first-of-its-kind capability for its new MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS in partnership with the US Navy under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
[Related; General Atomics completes UAS anti-sub sonobuoy demonstration]
