Officials at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA ASI), in San Diego announced that their Army I-GNAT ER unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has reached a record 10,000 combat flight hours on a total of 858 combat missions. The milestone was achieved by AI-005 while it performed a routine surveillance mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“With the highest full-mission capability rate of any operational U.S. Army UAS, the Army I-GNAT ER aircraft has made remarkable strides since it was deployed to Iraq just over two years ago,” says Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “No other unmanned aircraft system has reached this level of performance as quickly as the durable, consistent Army I-GNAT ER.”

Flying a total of more than 700 hours a month between two deployment sites, the Army I-GNAT ER family of three combat aircraft achieved 10,000 combat flight hours four years earlier than even the company’s flagship Predator UAS. Positioned as a cost-effective, long-endurance tactical reconnaissance system to support ground troops, the initial Army I-GNAT ER aircraft were deployed in March 2004, only six months after contract award.

Fielded aircraft are also being integrated with SATCOM capability to allow for beyond line-of-sight control. The Army I-GNAT ER is fully contractor-supported, with 11 company crew members at each site.

GA-ASI also completed a successful subystem Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) UAS, which is the first major review of the aircraft design. The ER/MP UAS program, which is designed to provide Army Division and Corps commanders with a long-endurance persistent ISR and tactical strike capability, is on schedule to deliver the first aircraft by April 2007.

Program advances will include a common ground control station that can control multiple aircraft; a satellite communications capability that will enable SATCOM missions to be conducted with half of the Army’s ER/MP UAS fleet; a tri-sensor payload; a 135 horsepower FAA-certified heavy-fuel engine and dual-slotted flaps that will allow for a 3,000-pound take-off weight; and a reduced runway requirement.