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
FrankieOne and Trulioo Join Forces to Build Trust Across Borders10.11.2026 03:00:00 EET | Press release
FrankieOne, the unified platform for identity, fraud and compliance, and Trulioo, the connected risk intelligence platform, today announced a strategic technology partnership expanding access to global Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB) and fraud capabilities. As businesses expand across borders, their customers expect fast, straightforward onboarding. Establishing trust behind the scenes is increasingly complex: data is fragmented, ownership structures span jurisdictions, and AI-enabled fraud adds new challenges. Global organisations need both the reach to serve new markets and the depth of information to make confident decisions. The partnership brings Trulioo’s global verification capabilities into FrankieOne’s connected financial crime ecosystem. Customers can verify businesses and discover ultimate beneficial owners, monitor changes over time, and verify the individuals through their existing integration, selecting the right capabilities for each market, customer a
Nordson EFD Launches PICO Pµlse XP HV Jetting System to Meet Assembly Market Demand for Dispensing High-Viscosity Materials9.11.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Nordson EFD,a Nordson company (NASDAQ: NDSN), today announced the launch of its PICO Pµlse® XP HV jetting system designed for extremely precise (XP) assembly applications utilizing high-viscosity (HV) materials like thick silicones, greases, and UV-cure adhesives. New formulations are rapidly entering the industrial marketplace due to evolutionary new product development across multiple industries including electronics, medical, and automotive. Nordson leveraged its core competencies and time-tested structural architecture to innovate the piezoelectric jetting system for non-contact precision dispensing of this emerging genre of viscous materials. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921406991/en/ Caption 1: Engineered for performance, the PICO Pμlse XP HV jetting system excels in demanding applications, such as optical bonding adhesives and precise one drop fill. The PICO Pµlse XP HV jet valve is automation rea
Tashkent Makes History with Central Asia’s First Golden Globes Gala9.11.2026 15:42:00 EET | Press release
Tashkent hosted the inaugural Golden Globes Silk Road Tribute Gala, bringing together internationally recognised actors, filmmakers and cultural figures from Central Asia, the Caucasus and beyond. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109918777/en/ Tashkent Makes History with Central Asia’s First Golden Globes Gala (Photo credit: © Organising Committee of the Golden Globes Silk Road Tashkent) Guests of honour included Otabek Umarov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia and Member of the FIA Senate, and Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection, First Deputy Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee of Uzbekistan and Member of the World Aquatics Executive Bureau. The event marked the first edition of the Golden Globes Silk Road initiative, establishing Tashkent as the launch city for
Latifa bint Mohammed Inaugurates ISEA20269.11.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, inaugurated the 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA2026 Dubai), held under the theme ‘ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity.’ Bringing together artists, researchers and innovators from around the world, the symposium, in its largest-ever edition, explores how art, science and technology can expand creative expression, deepen cultural understanding, and shape the future of electronic and emerging art. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109319593/en/ Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the opening of ISEA2026 Dubai (Photo: AETOSWire) Her Highness marked the inauguration by launching the interactive ELYAH show at ARTE MUSEUM Dubai. Inspired by Dubai’s celestial heritage, the experience combined light, music, performance and digital technology to explore the relations
Muslim World League’s “Minhaj” App Participates in Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Jeddah9.11.2026 15:04:00 EET | Press release
The “Minhaj” app, developed by the Muslim World League (MWL), is participating in the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2026, which commenced today in Jeddah under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (may Allah protect him). Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, the event is being held from November 8 to 11 at the Jeddah Superdome under the theme “From Makkah to the World.” This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261109411972/en/ The pavilion of the Muslim World League (MWL) at the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AETOSWire) Minhaj’s participation in this international event aims to introduce its integrated Islamic digital ecosystem, launched from Makkah to serve Muslims worldwide. The app off
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