CERTIFIABLE PREDATOR B RPA

GA-ASI is developing a variant of the Predator B RPA which will initially meet European airworthiness initial certification standards in 2017 and in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US, will subsequently meet domestic airworthiness certification standards. It leverages both the Predator B RPA and Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station as points of departure systems and identifies and incorporates the changes needed to achieve a CPB system. The improvements will be carried out both in hardware and software to include improved Predator B structural fatigue and damage tolerance and more reliable flight control software, as well as enhancements allowing operations in adverse weather including icing conditions. Additionally, the aircraft will be designed to survive bird and lightning strikes. The CPB is highly modular in construction and is easily configured with a variety of payloads to meet mission requirements. The UAV is capable of carrying multiple mission payloads and includes a state-of-the-art Detect and Avoid system. It will have adequate space, weight and power provisions to enable the retrofitting of an airborne Due Regard Radar for operation in non-cooperative ft, maximum endurance of over 40 hours and maximum true airspeed of 200 knots. It can be remotely piloted or fly in autonomous mode. It also has automatic take-off and landing capability apart from other features and ISR capabilities.