General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and electrooptic surveillance systems, has announced the near-term availability of two extended endurance options for its Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper fleet.

“We are continually seeking ways to improve our platforms, making them more relevant for our customers’ emerging needs,” said Frank W. Pace, President, Aircraft Systems Group, GA-ASI. “We’ve designed field-retrofittable capabilities – lengthened wings, wingborne fuel pods, and new heavy-weight landing gear – that greatly extend Reaper’s already impressive endurance and range while further increasing its operational flexibility.”

The results of GA-ASI’s recent Endurance Enhancement Study, which was completed on Internal Research and Development (IRAD) funds, propose two different field installable kits that extend endurance without costly depot aircraft modifications: First option optimises the aircraft for Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, adding two fuel pods to its existing 66 ft wings and heavyweight landing gear, increasing endurance from 27 hours to 37 hours and the second one optimises the aircraft for multi-purpose missions, replacing its current 66 ft wings with 88 ft wings, and adding two fuel pods and heavyweight landing gear, increasing endurance from 27 hours to 42 hours for ISR-only.

Predator B is currently operational with the US Air Force and Royal Air Force as the MQ-9 Reaper and the Italian Air Force as MQ-9, with NASA as Ikhana, and with the US Department of Homeland Security as Predator B/Guardian. The aircraft is designed to perform multi-mission ISR and “Hunter-Killer missions over land or sea, with more than 120 vehicles delivered since 2001.