The U.S. Army is planning to field upgraded, early production Sky Warrior unmanned systems in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010, to be equipped with improved software, hardware, new Hellfire missiles modified to better operate with unmanned systems. By the end of the year the Army plans to field the first production models of the Sky Warrior, as part of the ER/MP program. Photo: Sgt. Travis Zielinski, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., USD-C, U.S. Army
As production of Predator A winding, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) shifts to the production of the new Sky Warrior MQ-1C model designed for the U.S. Army Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) UAS program. The company has received $195.5 million in funding from the U.S. Army, part of an estimated $399 million contract to provide Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) aircraft and supplemental hardware for ER/MP.
The remaining amount expected in the late summer of 2010 will provide for 34 Sky Warrior aircraft, 16 One System Ground Control Stations (OSGCS) made by AAI Corporation, airborne and ground Tactical Control Data Link (TCDL) equipment produced by L-3 Communications West, and various other items to include automatic landing systems, spares, and ground support equipment.
Beginning December 2010, the company is scheduled to deliver over two aircraft a month through the end of 2012. New features being introduced with the Sky Warrior system include the capability to carry four Hellfire missiles, fully autonomous operation, including automatic takeoff and landing and the de-icing capabilities enabling the aircraft to fly through degraded weather conditions. Earlier this summer the Army is planning to field four Sky Warrior aircraft configured with the latest ‘Quick Reaction Capability’ (QRC-2), fitted to carry four new Hellfire AGM-114P+ missiles modified to better perform with unmanned aerial systems. Early models (QRC-1 and Sky Warrior Alpha) have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2008, and to date have logged over 145,000 flight hours.
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