General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business has received an $80.9 million U.S. Air Force contract to design, build, integrate and test components in support of the U.K.’s MQ-9B Protector program.
The service branch will obligate $33.5 million in FMS funds at the time of award, the Defense Department said Friday.
The U.K. said it will initially buy 16 units of the Protector remotely piloted aircraft variant from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. to replace the British air force’s current MQ-9 Reaper platform.
GA-ASI will perform work on the contract in Poway, California, through Aug. 31, 2021.