The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Laboratory will perform in January live-fire tests on a General Atomics-built laser weapon that works to generate up to 150 kilowatts of energy, Breaking Defense reported Monday. Richard Whittle writes the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System based-laser platform will be test-fired at various aerial […] More

France has placed an order for a third General Atomics-built Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle under a foreign military sales agreement with the U.S. Air Force, the French defense ministry said Thursday. The French government made the order through the country’s directorate general of armaments and under a military program that aims to equip its air force […] More

A Gray Eagle drone General Atomics built for the U.S. Army has completed a series of joint manned-unmanned aircraft teaming exercises in South Korea. General Atomics said Wednesday the Gray Eagle worked to stream video and metadata to the AH-64 Apache helicopter from a remote location for operators to control the drone’s sensors and identify targets. The Apache helicopter […] More

General Atomics has moved to expand the company’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa region with a newly opened office in Abu Dhabi. Frank Pace, president of aircraft systems at General Atomics aeronautical systems, said Sunday the company intends for the new office to support the MENA markets with the Predator remotely piloted […] More

General Atomics will receive $9.7 million in funds from the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration under a cooperative agreement to produce commercial supplies of molybdenum-99 medical isotopes in the U.S. Mo-99 serves as the parent isotope of the radioisotope technetium-99m used in nuclear-based diagnostic imaging procedures, General Atomics said Wednesday. The company will collaborate with […] More

A General Atomics subsidiary has launched a project to equip a company-built military unmanned aerial system with a high-energy laser technology, Defense One reported Wednesday. Defense One quoted Michael Perry, vice president of mission systems at General Atomics’ aeronautical systems unit, as saying the business is developing a laser module for the Avenger drone through […] More

A General Atomics business segment has announced plans to set up a new facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota that will train aircrews of domestic and international military agencies on how to operate remotely piloted aircraft. “We selected North Dakota as the site for our new training academy because it offered an unequaled opportunity to support both […] More

The U.S. Air Force has fielded a General Atomics-built unmanned Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range remotely piloted aircraft in support of the service’s Quick Reaction Capability requirement for the company. General Atomics said Tuesday the modified Reaper includes two wing-mounted fuel tanks, an alcohol/water injection system, a four-bladed propeller and a trailing arm landing gear system. Frank Pace, president of aircraft […] More

General Atomics has flown its Reaper and Predator drones to conduct surveillance operations on behalf of the government since April, Defense One reported Wednesday. Patrick Tucker writes that the company is among other drone manufacturers the Defense Department has hired to fly surveillance missions. The report said DoD’s move could also indicate potential plans to use civilian contractors for […] More

General Atomics executives have visited a site in Grand Forks, North Dakota as part of a discussion with Sen. John Hoeven to open an unmanned aerial systems training center in the region. Hoeven’s office said Monday the senator accompanied Frank Pace, president of General Atomics’ aircraft systems group, and Bart Roper, the group’s vice president […] More

Christopher Ames, director of international strategic development for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has noted at several indicators that he said point to a “growing interest in maritime surveillance,” DoD Buzz reported Tuesday. Brendan McGarry writes the Department of Homeland Security bought a fleet of a maritime-configured variant of the General Atomics-built Predator B aircraft to aid in the U.S.-Mexico […] More

General Atomics is modifying its Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system to meet NATO regulations as the company aims to fly the drone in European airspace by 2019, DoD Buzz reported Thursday. Brendan McGarry writes that the company is adding new features to drive fuel economy and comply with air worthiness requirements in the NATO Standardization Agreement 4671 and […] More