General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s RUAG Aerospace Services to offer the former’s Predator B multi-mission remotely piloted aircraft to the German military. “GA-ASI’s establishment of a working relationship with RUAG represents a strategic commitment by both companies to support the German armed forces with a proven, affordable, and responsive solution to Germany’s [intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance] and defense requirements,” said Neal Blue, GA-ASI chairman and CEO. Under the MOU, RUAG will perform roles like assisting in the adaptation of hardware to German national standards, supporting German airworthiness certification, and providing logistical and maintenance support once the Predator Bs are delivered. The US Air Force already operates the Predator B, which it calls the MQ-9 Reaper. So do the Royal Air Force and Italian air force.
Lockheed Martin projects more than a billion dollars of losses on a classified program, but company officials said April 23 they are confident it will turn profitable by 2028 and become a "franchise" system in the U.S. military.