General Atomics Tests UAV-Mounted Airborne Tracking and Targeting System

By Mike Ball / 23 Oct 2018

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

General Atomics MQ-9B UAV

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has announced that it has participated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) to conduct demonstrations and testing of the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Airborne Tracking and Targeting System (ATTS). The ATTS is configured on an MQ-9B unmnned aerial vehicle (UAV) to generate precision tracks and imagery of targets of interest. The system was employed throughout the RIMPAC exercises conducted near the Hawaiian Islands.

“We tested MDA’s ATTS under operational conditions to help further characterize its tracking performance against real-world targets of interest,” stated Dr. Michael Perry, vice president for lasers and advanced sensors at GA-EMS. “Exercises like RIMPAC provide us with a unique opportunity to shake out and stretch the system’s capabilities. We can now take the test data we’ve obtained and analyze it to further improve ATTS’ ability to effectively track and target a variety of threats at long-range and in real-time.

“GA-EMS continues to develop and advance its portfolio of missile defense weapon systems and technologies to support air, sea and land platforms,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “In an increasingly more complex, multi-layered warfare environment, systems like ATTS will enhance our military forces ability to improve tracking and targeting accuracy to protect lives and achieve mission success.”

Held every two years, RIMPAC is the world’s largest multinational maritime warfare exercise. The RIMPAC 2018 Exercise included 25 nations, 46 ships, approximately 200 aircraft, five submarines, and 25,000 personnel.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Mid-Range Radar Altimeter Released for Advanced UAV Applications

Ainstein has launched the new US-D1 Pro radar altimeter at XPO25, offering precise altitude control up to 120m and featuring extended range, increased certification compliance, and enhanced environmental resilience

May 20, 2025
Field-Tested: How Far Can the Dronetag RIDER Really Detect?

Dronetag’s latest video sees the RIDER Remote ID receiver put to the test, revealing its real-world detection range and previewing the new generation of Drone Scanner

May 20, 2025
Final Call to Apply for GENIUS NY Program

The application window for GENIUS NY, the premier uncrewed systems accelerator, closes May 28th. Learn about this incredible opportunity and explore how GENIUS NY champions innovation as the official XPO+ Launcher sponsor, at XPO Booth 3613

May 20, 2025
WISPR Systems Partners to Advance American-Made UAV Technology

WISPR Systems and NW Blue are joining forces to showcase advanced drone platforms designed for real-world applications, built on American-made innovation and reliability

May 20, 2025
Iridium Introduces 9603 ESBD Module for Secure Government Messaging

Iridium Communications Inc. is launching a U.S. government-specific version of its 9603 module, featuring Enhanced Short Burst Data (ESBD) for secure, low-latency mobile messaging across global defense networks

May 20, 2025
Elistair Awarded Contract to Supply Tethered Drones for Greek Fire Service

Elistair has secured a contract to supply tethered drone systems for integration into Greece’s Mobile Operations Centers, enhancing disaster response capabilities

May 20, 2025

Featured Content

Final Call to Apply for GENIUS NY Program

The application window for GENIUS NY, the premier uncrewed systems accelerator, closes May 28th. Learn about this incredible opportunity and explore how GENIUS NY champions innovation as the official XPO+ Launcher sponsor, at XPO Booth 3613

May 20, 2025
WarrenUAS Secures FAA 44807 Exemption, Expanding Large UAS Training Capabilities

WarrenUAS has received FAA 44807 approval to train students on unmanned aerial systems weighing over 55 pounds in the NAS, placing it among only five U.S. organizations with this clearance, and expanding its national training leadership

May 15, 2025
Product Spotlight: Durable Lightweight Lithium-Ion Batteries for UAVs

American Lithium Energy (ALE)'s energy-dense lithium-ion battery cells combine high power output with built-in safety features, ideal for UAV and eVTOL applications in challenging environments

May 14, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.