Mary-Louise Hoffman
General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business has finished rigorous tests on the fuselage structure of  a new variant of its Predator B remotely piloted aircraft.
“Completion of this testing signifies that the design of the new fuselage will be able to meet the strict requirements for type-certification and routine operations in national airspace,” Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said in a statement released Wednesday.
Blue added GA-ASI designed the “certifiable” Predator B RPA fuselage to comply with the NATO Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Airworthiness Standard.
GA-ASI used a proof-testing method to evaluate and verify the structural integrity of CPB RPA’s fuselage, according to General Atomics.
Proof tests occurred at the company’s California-based research and development facility and aimed to determine the effects of airframe bending, power plant torque, aft section torsion and multiple stress tests on the drone’s landing gear mounts and hoist load.
CPB RPAÂ is scheduled to undergo flight tests this year.
