General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA ASI) June 12 said that two Sky Warrior Block 0 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are now operational in Iraq supporting Army ground forces there.

The first mission for WY-201 occurred on April 18 and lasted 10.5 hours. A second Sky Warrior UAS, WY-202, was deployed at the end of April, the company said in a statement.

“The deployment of Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft more than a year in advance of SDD [Systems Development and Demonstration] deployment requirements for the Army’s ER/MP [Extended Range/Multi-Purpose] UAS Program is a testament to the creative solutions that can be achieved with increased cooperation between government and industry,” Thomas Cassidy, president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., said. “Sky Warrior is designed to be the Army’s most sophisticated and capable UAS. We are confident that this early fielding will not only showcase the maturity of the technology being incorporated into this new aircraft line, but also its ability to be a true force multiplier to soldiers in the field.”

Sky Warrior Block 0 is a quick reaction program designed to meet the Army’s urgent operational needs in the war on terror and offers significant risk reduction for the Sky Warrior Block 1 UAS developed for the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) program.

A precursor to the Block 1 aircraft, Block 0, features the same advanced airframe design, diesel engine, and redundant avionics as Block 1.

Fielding the Block 0 variant will support the development phase of SDD with operational data collected in combat expected to help facilitate the ER/MP Milestone C decision scheduled for this summer.

Sky Warrior will provide all-weather persistent intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), with significant payload capability to meet the Army’s mission requirements. Under the ER/MP program’s SDD phase, 17 Sky Warrior Block 1 UAS will be produced. Four of the aircraft are to be deployed. The remaining nine aircraft will serve as test program assets.

Meanwhile, the Army has also ordered a total of seven Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft, with the balance expected to join the first two operational UAS before the end of the year.