UPI:
Aug. 21 (UPI) — General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has received a $134 million contract to flight test advanced sensors for the MQ-9 series of unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract covers the development and integration of sensor systems into an MQ-9 for realistic testing in the continental U.S. and elsewhere.
Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be finished by October 2021. MDA fiscal 2018 research, development, test and engineering funds in the amount of $7.1 million are being obligated at the time of award.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian, also known as the Reaper, is a much larger and heavily armed successor to the storied MQ-1 Predator drone. It is designed primarily for attack missions but can also be used for surveillance, close air support and reconnaissance missions.
