General Atomics’ Reaper (MQ-9) unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed a series of automatic takeoffs and landings for the first time, the company said yesterday.
The takeoffs and landings involved tracking the centerline, smooth decelerations and applying reverse thrust and full brakes at the right ground speeds to complete stops, General Atomics said.
The company has also begun testing at higher wind limits, maximum aircraft gross weight, differential GPS enhancements, and terrain avoidance with adjustable glideslope has now begun.
The flights began June 27 at a company facility in Palmdale, Calif. So far, General Atomics has conducted 104 automatic takeoffs and landing of the MQ-9, which is in its Predator family of UAVs and is also known as Predator B.
The new capability for the Reaper was internally developed by General Atomics before the Air Force initiated funding, spokeswoman Kimberly Kasitz said.