General Atomics [GA] announced Tuesday the Italian Air Force accepted delivery of the final two RQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems of the Predator A product line.
“With the delivery of these aircraft, GA-ASI completes over two decades of delivering Predator A capabilities to the United States and allied countries,” Frank Pace, president of Aircraft Systems at General Atomics Aeronatical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), said in a statement.
Italy is a large user of the Predator and MQ-9 RPAs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean Sea and in support of NATO operations, the company noted. Italy was the first European country to have achieved a RPA airworthiness certification.
The company highlighted it has been supplying the Italian Air Force with these unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assets for more than 10 years
“Amassing over 2.1 million cumulative flight hours and featuring the highest Mission Capable Rate of any aircraft in the Air Force’s inventory, Predators will continue to keep warfighters safe by equipping them with unparalleled situational awareness for many years to come,” Pace added.