Australian Defence Force Selects GA-ASI’s MQ-9B for Project Air 7003
5.12.2019 04:28:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world’s leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), has been advised that the Australian Government has selected GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian® variant to provide the Armed RPAS for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under Project Air 7003. This follows the Government’s announcement in November 2018 that GA-ASI would provide Armed RPAS to the ADF. The ADF expects to take first delivery in the early 2020s.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191204005989/en/
The Australian Government selected GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian® variant to provide the Armed RPAS for the Australian Defence Force under Project Air 7003. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We have worked closely with the ADF to determine the right RPAS to meet their needs,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “MQ-9B will provide the all-weather, multi-mission support, and interoperability that the ADF requires. We look forward to working closely with our Australian industry partners to provide a highly capable RPAS to the ADF, while creating high-tech jobs in Australia.”
The ADF joins other top-tier military forces in choosing a GA-ASI RPAS because of its proven multi-role combat performance. MQ-9B is part of GA-ASI’s Predator® series of RPAS, which is the world’s most trusted and capable armed Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) RPAS, and hails from a family of aircraft that has flown more than six million flight hours.
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is acquiring the MQ-9B as part of its Protector RG Mk1 program and is scheduled for first delivery in the early 2020s. The Government of Belgium has approved Belgian Defense to negotiate for the acquisition of MQ-9B to meet the nation’s RPA requirements.
MQ-9B development is the result of a five-year, company funded program to deliver an unmanned aircraft system to meet the stringent airworthiness type-certification requirements of NATO and civil aviation authorities throughout the world. MQ-9B is provisioned for the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid (DAA) system, which consists of air-to-air radar, Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). The MQ-9B is built for all-weather performance with lightning protection, damage tolerance, and de-icing system.
GA-ASI announced its intention to offer a MALE RPAS to the ADF during AVALON 2017 with the launch of Team Reaper Australia, a robust group of Australian industry partners. The team currently consists of ten world-class Australian companies providing a range of innovative sensor, communication, manufacturing and life-cycle support capabilities including Cobham (lead industry partner), CAE, Raytheon, Flight Data Systems, TAE Aerospace, Quickstep, AirSpeed, Collins Aerospace, Ultra, and SentientVision.
Hi-resolution images of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian are available to qualified media outlets from the GA-ASI media contact list.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With nearly 6 million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.
Predator, SkyGuardian and Lynx are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191204005989/en/
Contact information
Steven Henden
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
+1 (858) 524-8101
ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Vertex to Present New Data on ALYFTREK ® at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference9.10.2026 20:15:00 EEST | Press release
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced new interim data from the ALYFTREK® (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) 2 to 5 years old open-label extension study, highlighting recovery of exocrine pancreatic function in some children in that age group, allowing those children to discontinue pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) was previously believed to be irreversible. These data were presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC). “The data presented at NACFC underscore the safety and efficacy of our CF medicines in the real world and in clinical trials in younger age groups. The data from the Phase 3 open-label study in 2 to 5 year olds evaluating exocrine pancreatic function represent a profound shift in how we understand the benefits of treating cystic fibrosis in its earliest stages,” said Carmen Bozic, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Devel
Verdant Rock Receives A (low) Financial Strength Rating from Morningstar DBRS, Adding a Second International Investment-Grade Assessment9.10.2026 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
Verdant Rock Limited, a Bermuda Monetary Authority-regulated Class 3B insurance company, has received an A (low) Financial Strength Rating from Morningstar DBRS. The rating reflects Verdant Rock’s financial strength and its capacity to meet policyholder obligations as an investment-grade financial guarantor for Emerging Markets credit. Morningstar DBRS is a global credit rating agency with coverage across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Its assessment of Verdant Rock reflects the company’s strong projected earnings ability, robust risk profile, sound liquidity, and good capitalization. Morningstar DBRS also assigned an A (low) Issuer Rating to Verdant Rock. The rating follows Verdant Rock’s BBB+ Long-Term Insurer Financial Strength Rating with a Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings, assigned on 12 June 2026. Verdant Rock now holds Financial Strength Ratings from both Fitch Ratings and Morningstar DBRS, providing counterparties with dual-agency confirmation of the company’s
Tecnotree Named a Visionary in the Inaugural 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for CSP AI-Enabled Marketing and Sales Solutions9.10.2026 16:17:00 EEST | Press release
Tecnotree, a global digital platform and services leader for AI, 5G, and cloud-native technologies, today announced that Gartner has positioned it as a Visionary in the first-ever Magic Quadrant for AI-Enabled CSP Marketing and Sales Solutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261009905430/en/ Tecnotree Named a Visionary in the Inaugural 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for CSP AI-Enabled Marketing and Sales Solutions A new category for a new operating model. CSPs are fighting saturated markets, rising acquisition costs, and accelerating churn. They are responding with AI-driven automation across the full revenue cycle, from segmentation and campaigns to lead management, CPQ, and renewals, increasingly executed by autonomous agents. According to us, Gartner creation of this Magic Quadrant confirms the shift has moved from pilot to boardroom priority. According to Gartner, Visionaries "understands where the market
Positive New Data on Corcym’s Perceval Plus Sutureless Aortic Heart Valve Encompasses up to 7-Year Follow-up9.10.2026 16:15:00 EEST | Press release
Corcym, a global medical device company dedicated to cardiac surgery, today announced that positive mid-term data from a sub-analysis of its Perceval Plus sutureless aortic heart valve as part of its MANTRA clinical trial was featured in an oral presentation today at the annual meeting of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). The study is the longest follow-up available for Perceval Plus and the FREE tissue treatment from an international multicenter study, and demonstrated excellent durability, safety and quality of life improvements. Perceval Plus is the only sutureless and collapsible aortic surgical heart valve. Its unique design performs in any surgical scenario and is optimal for endoscopy and robotics. The valve features the company’s FREE next generation tissue treatment addressing the two main causes of calcification, phospholipids and aldehydes. Its proprietary LANCELOT advanced manufacturing process includes zero-pressure shaping and laser cutting of
Ada earns AWS Travel and Hospitality Competency for resolving traveler issues at scale9.10.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Ada, the pioneer in Agentic Customer Experience, today announced it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Travel and Hospitality Competency. The designation recognizes Ada as an AWS Partner with demonstrated technical proficiency and proven customer success helping travel and hospitality brands resolve customer issues at scale. Ada joins a select group of 58 AWS Partners holding the competency, and it reflects a shared commitment to helping travel brands deliver service that holds up on their busiest, most unpredictable days. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261009673638/en/ Ada earns AWS Travel and Hospitality Competency for resolving traveler issues at scale "Travel is where agentic customer service gets tested hardest. Demand spikes without warning, policies change by the hour, and customers are often stressed and far from home," said Mike Murchison, CEO and co-founder of Ada. "Our airline and hospitali
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom