BriteCloud decoy trialled on Reaper UAV
22 February 2021
by Gareth Jennings
Leonardo has launched its BriteCloud expendable active decoy (EAD) from a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of wider trials of the newly developed Self-Protection Pod (SPP).
An artist’s impression of the BriteCloud expendable decoy saving an MQ-9 UAV from a surface-launched radar guided missile. (Leonardo)
Announced by the Italian company on 22 February, the tests of the SPP and its UK-designed and built BritCloud EAD took place in late 2020. They were conducted to develop a suite of protections against radar frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air missile threats to both the MQ-9A Reaper and MQ-9B Sky/SeaGuardian series UAVs.
GA-ASI demos self-protection pod for MQ-9
25 January 2021
by Gareth Jennings
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has flight-demonstrated a new self-protection pod for its MQ-9 range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company announced on 22 January.
An MQ-9 demonstrating a self-protection pod that would be compatible with both the Reaper and Sky/SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft. (GA-ASI)
The Self-Protection Pod (SPP) that is compatible with both the MQ-9A Reaper and MQ-9B Sky/SeaGuardian UAVs, was demonstrated at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on 28 October 2020. During the testing, the MQ-9 was able to successfully track radar and infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air missile threats, deploy countermeasures, and provide real-time threat awareness and protection in a simulated contested environment, GA-ASI said in a statement.
GA-ASI Completes Self-Protection System Demo on MQ-9 Our Bureau 2103
MQ-9 RPA equipped with Self-Protection Pod
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully completed flight testing of a newly developed Self-Protection Pod (SPP) on an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
The project was executed as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and with the support of the Air National Guard (ANG), the U.S. Navy (USN), and industry partners Raytheon Intelligence & Space, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Leonardo DRS, and Terma North America. The demo was held Oct. 28, 2020 at the Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG).