On July 29, 2022, Common Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI) examined a PT6 E-Sequence mannequin turboprop engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada on GA-ASI’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA). A number of full-power engine exams have been carried out at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, California. The PT6 E-Sequence is a dependable and versatile turboprop engine household that may ship the efficiency traits required as GA-ASI continues its growth of MQ-9B capabilities. GA-ASI has loved a long-term collaboration with Pratt & Whitney for over a decade with their turbofan engine for GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger RPA.
“Our PT6 E-series is the perfect engine for this mission and we sit up for working with Common Atomics on this essential program,” mentioned Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney Navy Engines.
Commercial
“We’ve loved a long-term relationship with Pratt & Whitney. Integrating their PT6 E-Sequence engine onto our MQ-9B SkyGuardian® plane affords an alternate choice for future clients that features a 33 p.c enhance in energy, twin channel digital propeller and engine management system, in addition to all the advantages of the PT6 engine household,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
The MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial automobile (UAV) able to remotely managed or autonomous flight operations developed by Common Atomics Aeronautical Methods (GA-ASI) primarily for the U.S. Air Drive. MQ-9B represents the following era of RPA system having demonstrated airborne endurance of greater than 40 hours in sure configurations, computerized takeoffs and landings underneath SATCOM-only management, in addition to a GA-ASI developed Detect and Keep away from system. Its growth is the results of a company-funded effort to ship an RPA that may meet the stringent airworthiness certification necessities of assorted navy and civil authorities.
GA-ASI has developed a variant of the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA) sequence that meets NATO requirements (STANAG-4671), and in cooperation with the FAA, will subsequently meet airworthiness certification requirements domestically and all over the world. It leverages each the Predator B RPA and Certifiable Floor Management Station (CGCS) as points-of-departure methods and identifies and incorporates the modifications wanted to attain a “Kind-Certifiable” system. The Royal Air Drive was the very first to accumulate the SkyGuardian, known as PROTECTOR by the British acquisition program, as a substitute for its Reaper fleet.
