At the end of my interview yesterday with Thomas Cassidy, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), I asked about what was happening with the Predator C, the jet-powered and reportedly stealthy successor to the Predator/Reaper family.
"It flew last weekend," he said.
GA-ASI has been internally developing the Predator C since 2005, keeping its performance, design and progress a mostly well-kept secret. It was supposed to fly for the first time last fall, but technical issues and US FAA-imposed certification reviews kept it grounded until early April.
The US Air Force is looking for a next-generation unmanned aerial system to replace the MQ-1 Predator, but the timing is uncertain. The USAF has withdrawn a request for information issued to industry last year, and there's been no word about its future.
Of course, Cassidy's GA-ASI has never let delays in the acquisition process stop him before. It appears the Predator C is moving forward with or without the USAF. Consider this press release issued last week by Brian Bilbray, a California congressman. He has requested to earmark $26 million for Predator C in the next appropriations bill.
"It flew last weekend," he said.
GA-ASI has been internally developing the Predator C since 2005, keeping its performance, design and progress a mostly well-kept secret. It was supposed to fly for the first time last fall, but technical issues and US FAA-imposed certification reviews kept it grounded until early April.
The US Air Force is looking for a next-generation unmanned aerial system to replace the MQ-1 Predator, but the timing is uncertain. The USAF has withdrawn a request for information issued to industry last year, and there's been no word about its future.
Of course, Cassidy's GA-ASI has never let delays in the acquisition process stop him before. It appears the Predator C is moving forward with or without the USAF. Consider this press release issued last week by Brian Bilbray, a California congressman. He has requested to earmark $26 million for Predator C in the next appropriations bill.
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