Predator B flies with ATC radio

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA ASI) has flown the Predator B UAS integrated with the certified Rohde & Schwarz R&S MR6000A air traffic control radio, the company announced on 13 October.

The 48 minute flight, which took place from the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, California, saw Predator B demonstrate its ability to integrate the R&S MR6000A airborne radio, delivering VHF radio communication to and from dismounted ground users equipped with a standard VHF aviation radio.

The flight is part of work being undertaken by GA-ASI to deliver the Certifiable Predator B (CPB) UAS to European customers, and to add German and European payload capability into its Predator-series aircraft.

The R&S MR6000A supports both VHF and UHF air-to-air and air-to-ground communications. The radio is already in service on the A400M Atlas, for which it has been certified as RTCA/DO 178B (level C) and RTCA/DO 254 (DAL C) by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Linden P Blue, CEO, GA-ASI, said: ‘Integrating Rohde & Schwarz’s R&S MR6000A aboard Predator B is a big step forward in meeting the airworthiness type-certification requirements of our current and future European customers. We are excited to leverage R&S MR6000A’s capabilities to enhance Predator B’s safe flight in domestic and international airspace further.’

The next priority for GA-ASI is the integration of the radio into CPB’s design. Hardware and software upgrades and a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system featuring an airborne Due Regard Radar (DRR) for operation in non-cooperative airspace will also be integrated. Additionally, the aircraft will be designed to survive bird and lightning strikes and will be equipped with a de-icing system. 

CPB initially will target NATO type-certification standards with completion of the first-article production aircraft in late 2017.

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