Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) teamed as much as conduct flight coaching on the operation of the MQ-9A Block 5 Unmanned Plane System (UAS) for the Marine Aviation Weapons and Techniques Squadron One (MAWTS-1) at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. The scholars participated in Weapons and Techniques Teacher (WTI) Course 2-24, which is a complete course designed for choose pilots and enlisted aircrew that includes Marine Corps planning together with implementation of superior air and floor techniques.
The seven-week course, which was accomplished on April 20, 2024, for the primary time included the employment of GA-ASI’s SkyTower I pod, which is a USMC-specific payload for MQ-9A that gives airborne communication extension capabilities in varied waveforms. SkyTower I offers an Airborne Community Extension to the Marine Air-Floor Activity Drive (MAGTF) that could be a commercial-quality WiFi community, in addition to a relay/repeater operate connecting geographically disconnected groups.
“Congratulations to the latest graduates of WTI,” mentioned GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Improvement Patrick Shortsleeve. “GA-ASI is proud to help the coaching of the MAWTS-1 aircrews within the use and utility of the MQ-9A platform, particularly now with our SkyTower capabilities.”
The WTI course is famend for its superior graduate-level coaching, significantly in refining tactical expertise and methods for aviation operations. It’s an integral a part of growing and implementing cutting-edge aviation weapons and techniques, each in terrestrial and maritime settings.
In latest coaching situations, the Marines had the chance to hone their expertise utilizing a GA-ASI-supplied MQ-9A. The platform offers precious hands-on expertise in working superior UAS, enhancing their proficiency in using MQ-9A successfully for varied missions.
Graduates of the WTI program are poised to turn out to be go-to consultants inside their squadrons for the employment of MQ-9A Block 5, leveraging their complete coaching and specialised data. This system ensures that graduates are well-prepared to guide and execute missions using this refined platform with precision and effectivity.
This coaching is a essential a part of the MAGTF Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) Medium-Altitude, Lengthy-Endurance (MALE) program assembly Full Operational Functionality (FOC). GA-ASI is a dedicated associate in serving to the USMC meet this essential program milestone.
GA-ASI has delivered 13 MQ-9A UAS to the USMC to this point. The USMC awaits supply of seven extra plane, which is able to fulfill their objective of three squadrons by 2025.
About GA-ASI
Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of Common Atomics, is a number one designer and producer of confirmed, dependable RPA techniques, radars, and electro-optic and associated mission techniques, together with the Predator® RPA collection and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With greater than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI offers long-endurance, mission-capable plane with built-in sensor and knowledge hyperlink techniques required to ship persistent situational consciousness. The corporate additionally produces quite a lot of sensor management/picture evaluation software program, presents pilot coaching and help providers, and develops meta-material antennas.
