General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that it successfully flew the new Block 1-plus variant of its Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft during a test. There were “no discrepancies” during the inaugural flight on May 24 at the company’s facility in Palmdale, Calif., according to the company’s Sept. 5 release. The Block 1-plus configuration is an upgrade to the original Block 1 Predator B that has been in production for the United States, Britain, and Italy since 2003. The new version offers features like increased electrical power, gross takeoff weight, and reliability; more robust communications options; streamlined payload integration; and a new trailing arm main landing gear. The company is enhancing the aircraft “to meet emerging customer requirements,” said Frank Pace, president of the company’s Aircraft Systems Group. The new variant will be designated the MQ-9 Block 5 once it enters production, states the release. Earlier this year, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems unveiled upgrade options to extend the endurance of existing Predator Bs/MQ-9s.
The U.S. and Sweden signed a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement on Dec. 5 that will strengthen military ties between them and likely lead to U.S. troops and prepositioned gear on Swedish soil. Swedish Defense minister Pal Jonson said the war in Ukraine prompted Sweden's joining NATO and he laid out…