General Atomics Aeronautical Systems recently announced some of the new capabilities that have been tested for the MQ-9 Reaper (in particular, the MQ-9A Block 5) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the last months of 2020. Among all the tests, one of the most interesting is undoubtedly the newly developed Self-Protection Pod (SPP) that could be a first for an unmanned aircraft.
According to GA’s press release, the successful demonstration was held on Oct. 28, 2020, at the Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG), as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and with the support of the Air National Guard (ANG), the U.S. Navy (USN), Raytheon Intelligence & Space, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Leonardo DRS, and Terma North America....MORE
