General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA‑ASI) has announced that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have released its newest flight software which fields GA-ASI’s proprietary Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) system.
The ATLC system is designed to increase the safety and efficiency of aircrews. This release allows CBP to realise a major capability milestone following the upgrade of its operational Predator B Guardian aircraft fleet with other advanced equipment.
In concert with the ATLC upgrade, GA-ASI is equipping CBP’s Predator B aircraft fleet with its heavyweight Trailing Arm Main Landing Gear (TAMLG). The combined upgrade is expected to be completed by December 2016.
The design of the ATLC system for CBP’s Predator Bs was leveraged directly from the Automatic Takeoff and Landing System (ATLS) on the Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system, which has logged tens of thousands of successful automatic take-off and landing events with the US Army.
The multi-mission Predator B is a long-endurance, medium-high altitude RPA that can be used for surveillance, military reconnaissance and targeting missions.
CBP and NASA have employed Predator B operationally since 2006. The aircraft is also operational with the USAF, RAF and French Air Force as MQ-9 Reaper, with the Italian Air Force as MQ-9, and has recently been acquired by the Spanish Air Force.
“We are very pleased that CBP has integrated this new capability for its Predator B Guardian aircraft, upgrading it with a mission-proven ATLC system that provides significant efficiencies through reduced pilot workload and streamlined training,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. “The incorporation of ATLC will also improve Predator B’s landing precision and safety by reducing the number of hard landings due to environmental factors.”
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Mark Lane is a defence writer for defenceonline.co.uk and the MoD’s Defence Contracts Bulletin. He is also editor of Global Trader, sub-editor of Insider Scotland and a former editor of Business Today.
ATLC International Predator B Guardian aircraft
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