General Atomics to Integrate, Test Special Ops UAV Modifications Under Potential $93M SOCOM IDIQ

A General Atomics business unit has landed a potential five-year, $93M contract from the U.S. Special Operations Command to integrate and test modified variants of two unmanned aerial vehicle platforms.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. will incorporate Special Operations Forces Peculiar modifications into MQ-9 and MQ-1C medium altitude, long endurance tactical UAVs, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

DoD added that GA-ASI will conduct studies and analysis to help the government decide on potential MALET SOF-p adjustments in the near future.

Contract work is initially scheduled to occur through September 2023 at a company facility in Poway, Calif.

The MQ-9 Reaper, also called Predator B, is designed to operate for more than 27 hours at an altitude of up to 50K and carry 3,850 pounds of payload.

The MQ-1C Gray Eagle can soar up to 29K feet and accommodate 1,075 pounds of payload such as Hellfire missiles, a synthetic aperture radar and an electro-optical/infrared technology.

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