Army chooses General Atomics' Predator unmanned aircraft

Published: Aug 12, 2005
Source: www.signonsandiego.com



Taking a step in a new direction, the Army has awarded a $214 million contract to develop an improved, long-range version of the Predator unmanned aircraft made by San Diego's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.

The deal represents a significant new customer for the company, which expects to eventually build a fleet of 132 robotic aircraft for the Army at an estimated cost of $1 billion.


In announcing the contract award yesterday, GA Aeronautical Systems has also bolstered its position in one of the fastest-growing segments of the defense industry and beat out Northrop Grumman, a chief rival.

GA Aeronautical Systems has delivered 123 Predators to the Air Force, which operates the unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, in Iraq and elsewhere around the world. The Air Force also operates seven of the newest Predator B aircraft, which is a bigger and more powerful model of the basic Predator UAV that GA Aeronautical Systems developed in 1994.continue..