GA-ASI Completes Full-Scale Fatigue Test on MQ-9B for Second Lifetime

Share

SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 14, 2024 / On Sept. 30, 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The team completed the "second lifetime" of fatigue testing, which is equivalent to 80,000 operating hours and represents an important step in validating the design of the airframe system. The testing is part of the aircraft certification to NATO standard STANAG 4671, where the aircraft will ultimately be tested through three lifetimes, thereby proving the 40,000-hour lifetime of the airframe.

The full-scale fatigue test simulates the aircraft's design service through the application of repeated structural loading on the assembled airframe. The testing identifies any potential structural deficiencies ahead of fleet usage and assists in developing inspection and maintenance schedules for the airframe. The results of the test will be used as part of the documentation for certification and will form the basis for in-service inspections of structural components.

MQ-9B is GA-ASI's most advanced RPA and includes the SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® models as well as the new Protector RG Mk1 that is currently being delivered to the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF).

"Full-scale fatigue testing is an integral part of validating the airframe design and a key input for the certification of the airframe prior to entering service," said Chris Dusseault, vice president of MQ-9B in Europe. "The completion of the fatigue test builds confidence for our MQ-9B customers that the SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian meets the stringent design rigor and is mature at Entry into Service."

The testing is the validation of years of design and analysis efforts. This is the second of three lifetimes of testing for the airframe. Two of the lifetimes simulate the operation of an aircraft under normal conditions, and the third has intentional damage inflicted on the airframe's critical components to demonstrate its resistance to operational damage that may occur over the lifetime of the air vehicle.

Testing was conducted from Jan. 31, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2024, at Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita, Kansas. The airframe tested is a production airframe purpose-built to support the test campaign.

In addition to the RAF, contracts have been signed for MQ-9B with Belgium, Canada, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command. The Japan Coast Guard is currently operating the SeaGuardian for maritime operations, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) selected SeaGuardian for its Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) RPA System Trial Operation Project.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent situational awareness. The company also produces a variety of sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas.

For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.

Avenger, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Contact Information

GA-ASI Media Relations
asi-mediarelations@ga-asi.com

SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

General Atomics

Subscribe to releases from ACCESS Newswire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from ACCESS Newswire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from ACCESS Newswire

Latest GA Autonomous Jet Demo Features Live Air-to-Air Engagement Capability17.7.2025 18:10:00 CEST | Press release

Autonomous Tasking With TacACE and Optix.C2 Showcase Maturity and Operational Readiness SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / July 17, 2025 / General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-Intelligence) successfully completed a groundbreaking demonstration on July 8, integrating technologies across multiple affiliates to showcase long-range kill chain effects, including an autonomous air-to-air engagement. The flight integrated local and global sensor fusion to deliver real-time situational awareness and autonomous tasking to an airborne MQ-20 Avenger® through the Tactical Autonomy Core Ecosystem (TacACE) to close the kill chain and showcase the system's maturity and operational readiness for the warfighter. The event featured the integration of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a fully compliant government-owned autonomy implementation, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Command and Control (C2). The MQ-20 unmanned jet,

Belgian Aircrew Completes MQ-9B Training17.7.2025 18:05:00 CEST | Press release

GA-ASI's MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Training Was Conducted at Multiple Sites, Including Flight Test & Training Center and Desert Horizon SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / July 17, 2025 / The first Belgian aircrew has completed training to operate the world's leading remotely piloted aircraft (RPA): the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), designer and developer of the MQ-9B, provided the extensive aircrew training that culminated at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon test facility in El Mirage, California, following stops in Belgium and GA-ASI's Flight Test & Training Center in North Dakota. "Providing all-encompassing training for the aircrews of our customers goes hand in hand with delivering the world's most capable RPA," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "Completing this training ensures that Belgium is ready and able to operate their MQ-9Bs and maximize the benefits that come from long-range, high-endurance RPA." The scope of the training is focuse

A New Transatlantic Partnership for European CCA17.7.2025 18:00:00 CEST | Press release

General Atomics announces plans for rapid international uncrewed fighter development FAIRFORD, UK / ACCESS Newswire / July 17, 2025 / General Atomics is taking a bold step toward rapidly delivering a European Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) - based on a mature U.S. platform, assembled in Europe, with European mission systems - by aligning its independent U.S. and German aerospace affiliates under a teamed operation.YFQ-42A The new aircraft is derived from the U.S. Air Force's YFQ-42A prototype, currently in ground testing and scheduled for first flight later this summer, designed and built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) in San Diego, Calif. European mission system customization and manufacturing in Europe will be supported by General Atomics' German aerospace affiliate, General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH (GA-ATS), headquartered in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich. Leveraging the prior investments of these established aerospace companies on both sides of the A

Global Sports Brand U.S. Polo Assn. Launches First Retail Store in Berlin, Germany16.7.2025 16:37:00 CEST | Press release

Brand Targets Aggressive Retail, Wholesale and Ecommerce Expansion WEST PALM BEACH, FL AND BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESS Newswire / July 16, 2025 / U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), is proud to announce its first retail store in Germany alongside its brand partners Incom S.p.a. and Modevertrieb Sarnacchiaro GmbH (MVS). The location of the first U.S. Polo Assn. store in the heart of Berlin is at the premier Alexa Mall at Alexanderplatz and marks the beginning of a strategic retail rollout across the country, which solidifies the multi-billion-dollar brand's global presence in Germany. The new Berlin store is offering a curated selection of men's, women's, undergarments, and beachwear collections - a perfect mix of sports heritage and contemporary spirit.U.S. Polo Assn. Executives J. Michael Prince, Antonio Sarnacchiaro, and Lorenzo Nencini with U.S. Polo Assn. Models U.S. Polo Assn. is a symbol of style that blends sports inspiration and authen

Camino Announces High-Grade Copper, with Bornite, Trench Results of 90 Meters at 1.07 % Copper including 4 Meters at 3.05% Copper in New Mirador Zone at Los Chapitos in Peru16.7.2025 12:00:00 CEST | Press release

Appoints New CFO for the Copper Development Stage in Chile and Peru VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / July 16, 2025 / Camino Minerals Corporation (TSXV:COR)(OTC PINK:CAMZF) ("Camino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce high‐grade copper trench results from the Mirador prospect located in the Diva trend, one of several prospective targets at the Company's Los Chapitos Copper Project ("Los Chapitos" or the "Project") in Peru. The new mineralized body identified at Mirador could represent the northwesterly continuation of the Adriana mineralized copper zone where over 20,000 meters of drilling has been completed. There are clear lithological, mineralogical, and structural similarities observed at Adriana, Mirador, and Katty that share the same structural control across the Diva trend fault. Importantly, this primary and oxide copper surface exposure mineralization is within intrusive, potential source rocks, that typically underlay the volcanic Chocolate Formation. The package of vol

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
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye