MQ-9B SkyGuardian demo held by GA-ASI for RAF
NewsAugust 23, 2019
YUMA, Ariz. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) showcased the MQ-9B SkyGuardian ? GA-ASI?s development robotic process automation that the Royal Air Force?s (RAF) new Protector RG Mk1 is based upon ? RAF senior leadership and RAF Reaper operators, as well as guests from the U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The demonstration also featured several of its capabilities, including the new Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS), automatic takeoff, landing and taxi over SATCOM, Portable Pre/Post-Flight Equipment (P3E), and the Mission Intelligence Center.
The flight originated from Yuma Army Airfield in Arizona where GA-ASI crews flew SkyGuardian to Nevada and required no forward-deployed aircrew or Ground Control Station (GCS). The flight received FAA clearance to fly without a chase plane, and landed using Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) via SATCOM data link.
It then taxied while still under satellite control from Yuma, before being turned over to GA-ASI’s Portable Pre/Post-Flight Equipment, a laptop that allows a forward-deployed maintainer to use automated pre-flight checklists.
