General Atomics [GA] and GKN Aerospace Fokker [GKN] announced a collaboration Thursday to produce and support landing gear systems for the Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper RPA systems.
GA and Fokker have been working together for years to offer the Predator B to the Dutch Armed Forces, with Fokker being GA’s Netherlands in-country partner.
The companies said an experienced Fokker Program Team will manage the execution of this Predator B landing gear production program.
“We are committed to substantial European industrial involvement on our aircraft systems. Fokker’s production of the Predator B landing gear system is just one of the major areas of collaboration with European industry,” Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), said in a statement.
The companies also said they are evaluating a joint research program to design and develop the next generation of advanced composite landing gear for the Predator B. “The landing gear may be leveraged by current Predator B customers to include the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection, NASA, and soon others,” GA and Fokker said.
The companies said they will specifically explore collaboration to develop a landing gear system for Predator B, fulfilling both companies’ efforts to add Dutch content onto the aircraft and satisfying anticipated Dutch Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) obligations related to the potential procurement of Predator B by the Dutch Armed Forces.
“We are proud to partner with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the innovative Predator B system. This initial contract marks the beginning of what we expect to be a long term endeavor of technology and process development,” Michiel van der Maat, vice president of Fokker Technologies, added.