Strasbourg, June 1, 2021 -- The U.S. Government and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) will provide a mid-life update to the Italian Air Force's fleet of MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Ground Control Stations (GCS) as part of a Foreign Military Sales agreement. The update will include MQ-9s, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by GA-ASI, which will improve them from Block 1 to Block 5 configuration.
The Block 5 system includes a significantly increased electrical power capability, improved landing gear and the latest versions of the GA-ASI Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and Raytheon Electro-Optical sensors.
“The Italian Air Force has long been a leader in the utilization of MQ-9 RPA to support a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations,” said GA-ASI European Regional Vice President, Scott Smith. “These enhancements give Italian forces the ability to see better and more clearly than ever with their MQ-9 RPAs and we’re proud to work with the Italian Air Force to update their existing fleet.”