Following supply of the primary two MQ-9A Unmanned Plane Methods (UAS) that had been procured upon the profitable completion of a Firm-Owned Firm-Operated (COCO) Deployment Contract, Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) are celebrating the supply of the primary new-build MQ-9A Prolonged Vary (ER) UAS to Naval Air Methods Command (NAVAIR) on April 19, 2023. The supply of the primary new-build MQ-9A ER is a part of the Marine Air-Floor Process Power (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) Program.

“It’s thrilling to make this preliminary supply to NAVAIR, which strengthens the connection between GA-ASI, the USMC, and NAVAIR, whereas launching the MUX MALE (Medium-Altitude, Lengthy-Endurance) Program of File from idea into actuality,” stated GA-ASI Senior Vice President for MQ-9 Methods, Fred Darlington.

GA-ASI was selected by the USMC in 2022 to ship eight MQ-9A ER UAS as a part of the ARES Indefinite-Supply/Indefinite-Amount (ID/IQ) contract.

The MQ-9A ER is designed with field-retrofittable capabilities resembling wing-borne gasoline pods and strengthened touchdown gear that stretch the plane’s endurance to greater than 30 hours whereas additional rising its operational flexibility. The plane gives long-endurance, persistent surveillance capabilities with Full-Movement Video and Artificial Aperture Radar/Transferring Goal Indicator/Maritime Mode Radar. A particularly dependable plane, MQ-9A ER is supplied with a fault-tolerant flight management system and a triple-redundant avionics system structure. It’s engineered to fulfill and exceed manned plane reliability requirements.