All
Suppliers
Products
CAD Models
Diverse Suppliers
Insights
By Category, Company or Brand
All Regions
Alabama
Alaska
Alberta
Arizona
Arkansas
British Columbia
California - Northern
California - Southern
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Manitoba
Maryland
Massachusetts - Eastern
Massachusetts - Western
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Brunswick
New Hampshire
New Jersey - Northern
New Jersey - Southern
New Mexico
New York - Metro
New York - Upstate
Newfoundland & Labrador
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ohio - Northern
Ohio - Southern
Oklahoma
Ontario
Oregon
Pennsylvania - Eastern
Pennsylvania - Western
Prince Edward Island
Puerto Rico
Quebec
Rhode Island
Saskatchewan
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas - North
Texas - South
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Yukon

A Changing of the Drone Guard

Jeff Reinke
1/27/2019 | 5 min read
Subscribe
A Changing of the Drone Guard

In an effort to improve data transmission capabilities for the MQ-9 Reaper drone used on surveillance and data gathering missions, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded General Atomics a $14.1 million contract. The contract covers the provision of Block 5 kits to help improve electrical output, communications security, and transmission bandwidth.

The Block 5 kits have an upgraded electrical system with a backup generator that can support various flying conditions. The Block 5 upgrade includes extended-range kits, beyond-line-of-sight kits, and Barrett Asymmetrical Digital Datalink Computer (BADDC) Routers that provide a higher, continuously-available bandwidth for transmitting digital information. This higher bandwidth also helps eliminate transmission delays from the drone, especially for full-motion video.

The contract comes as the military begins to phase out Predator drones in favor of the Reaper’s ability to carry more fuel and a heavier payload. The drones will continue to be one of the primary weapons in the U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Both the Predator and the Reaper also have offensive capabilities, usually carrying Hellfire air-to-ground missiles.

The U.S. military has long planned the retirement of the Predator in favor of an all-Reaper fleet. The Air Force explained their reasoning to retire the Predator in February 2017, noting that the more modern MQ-9 Reaper has been better equipped with superior features and operational capabilities. Work on the Block 5 kits will take place in Poway, California, and should be completed by February 2021.

Next Up in Industry Trends
Bridge Collapse Reverberates Throughout Supply Chain
Show More in Industry Trends