General Atomics MQ-9

The UK’s Military Aviation Authority has issued a military type certificate (MTC) for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) new General Atomics Protector UAS.

Belgium will arm its F-35 Joint Strike Fighters with standoff weapons and acquire a new fleet of search-and-rescue helicopters, a policy note says.

Thales’ Talios targeting pod is a “very good candidate” to receive a new sensor window.

A potential sale of the General Atomics’ MQ-9B uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to Qatar has been approved by the U.S. State Department.

The USAF wants to evaluate how the ALQ-167 Angry Kitten pod can support larger Fairchild Republic A-10s and mobility aircraft, including the Lockheed C-130.

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX)-24 loaded the first SkyTower II Airborne Network Extension pod on a MQ-9A Block 5-25 aircraft on Feb. 25.

AFSOC is looking to go big with a new autonomy effort, moving from solely focusing on using MQ-9 Reapers as host to its C-130 variants.

Unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in November, the CH-YH1000 is a medium-altitude multipurpose aircraft for civil and military missions.

Poland is joining Belgium and the UK as European operators of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian uncrewed aircraft system (UAS).

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

General Atomics has confirmed the Japanese Navy’s decision to buy 23 MQ-9Bs as part of a program to reduce purchases of crewed maritime patrol aircraft.

The Japan Coast Guard has acquired a pair of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B Sea Guardians.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

A new engine war is brewing for the MQ-9 Reaper after GA-ASI flew a second engine type onboard the UAS earlier this month.

AFSOC has been undertaking the plan, called the Adaptive Airborne Enterprise, to have one airman control multiple UAS.

The Corps’ notorious Force Design 2030 plan, first released in 2021, reshaped the service through major steps such as a famous decision to get rid of tanks.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2024 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast

The conflict in Ukraine is reshaping Poland’s air force, but the service is facing challenges as it grows.

Having shown a single airman can control multiple General Atomics MQ-9s, AFSOC is looking to demonstrate the Reapers can launch a swarm of smaller drones.

According to data from Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery Military tool, NATO’s ISR fleet only counts 19 aircraft, but these modest numbers belie the strength of the alliance’s combined ISR capability.

Upgrades and replacements are coming for the U.S. Marine Corps’ light- and medium-size rotorcraft fleet, along with advanced new uncrewed aircraft systems.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Survivable Airborne Operations Center selections favor private companies as major primes set sights on larger awards.

French defense contractor Turgis Gaillard has begun initial ground tests of its Aarok medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft system.

Acquisitions of new helicopters and airborne early warning aircraft are funded, while other capabilities will be “explored.”

Houthi forces downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper on Feb. 19 as American operations targeting the rebel group in Yemen have continued at a high pace.