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Unmanned Systems

Protector Drone Achieves First Flight, As General Atomics Looks for RAF Delivery Next Summer

Frank Wolfe

Monday, September 28th, 2020

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Protector Drone Achieves First Flight, As General Atomics Looks for RAF Delivery Next Summer

The RG Mk1 Protector for the Royal Air Force is a customized version of the MQ-9B (General Atomics Photo)

The General Atomics' RG Mk1 Protector drone, the fourth MQ-9B SkyGuardian air vehicle, achieved first flight on Sept. 25, the company said, as it awaits system testing of the drone by a U.K. Ministry of Defense, U.S. Air Force, General Atomics' team in expectation of delivery to the Royal Air Force (RAF) next summer. Labeled UK1, the first Protector drone has "a special customer specified configuration" for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), per General Atomics. General Atomics said…

Congress

SASC Cites Concern With Army’s sUAS Approach, Seeks Info On Plans To Scale Fielding

Senate defense authorizers are seeking more info from the Army on its plans for scaling and deploying small drone capabilities citing concern with the service’s current “fragmented and insufficient” approach. […]

SASC Bill Would Raise Amphib Requirement To 33 Ships

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill adds new provisions that would raise the Navy and Marine Corps’ minimum requirement for amphibious warships and extend […]

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]

Senate Authorization Bill Restricts Building Navy Warships Overseas With Limited Exception For Auxiliaries

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the FY 2027 defense policy bill looks to cut the ability for the Trump administration to buy foreign-made warships, but still allow […]