Agreement Supports Commitment to Integrate New Dutch/European Capabilities
AIR SHOW – 2 June 2016 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, and GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit, a leading Dutch aircraft systems and components manufacturer, today announced that they will collaborate to produce and support landing gear systems for Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® RPA systems. Fokker is GA-ASI’s Dutch in-country partner.
GA-ASI and Fokker have been working together for several years to offer Predator B to the Dutch Armed Forces. Predator B exceeds the Dutch Air Forces’ requirements for persistent remotely piloted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems.
“We are committed to substantial European industrial involvement on our aircraft systems,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “Fokker’s production of the Predator B landing gear system is just one of the major areas of collaboration with European industry.”
GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit has long-standing experience with the design and development; Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO); and production of landing gear. In 1978, the business began manufacturing the F-16 landing gear as a production program and later expanded its production programs, to include the AH-64 in 1996 and Dash-8 in 2006. Most recently, it began producing landing gear parts for the Embraer 500 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Since start of its production programs, the company has evolved to a landing gear design and development company and is involved in programs such as NH-90 and F-35. An experienced Fokker Program Team will manage the execution of the Predator B landing gear production program.
Additionally, GA-ASI and Fokker are evaluating a joint research project to design and develop the next generation of advanced composite landing gear for Predator B. The landing gear may be leveraged by current Predator B customers to include the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection, NASA, and soon others.
Specifically, GA-ASI and Fokker will explore collaboration to develop a landing gear system for Predator B, fulfilling both companies’ efforts to add Dutch content onto the aircraft and satisfying anticipated Dutch Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) obligations related to the potential procurement of Predator B by the Dutch Armed Forces.
"We are proud to partner with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the innovative Predator B system,” saidMichiel van der Maat, vice president of Fokker Technologies. “This initial contract marks the beginning of what we expect to be a long term endeavor of technology and process development. We look forward to advancing our cutting-edge landing gear technologies to provide the best value for Predator B, enhancing both affordability and quality.”
This strategic collaboration continues to demonstrate GA-ASI’s drive to support Dutch industry and to integrate their industrial capabilities worldwide. GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit and Dutch industry will play a critical role in the expanding Predator-series market.
High-resolution photos of Predator B are available to qualified media outlets from the GA-ASI media contact listed below.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, delivers situational awareness by providing remotely piloted aircraft systems, radar, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. The company’s Aircraft Systems business unit is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, including Predator A, Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, Gray Eagle, the new Predator CAvenger®, and Predator XP. It also manufactures a variety of state-of-the-art digital Ground Control Stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations. The Mission Systems business unit designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and sophisticated Claw® sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and remotely piloted aircraft. It also focuses on providing integrated sensor payloads and software for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platforms and develops high energy lasers, electro-optic sensors, and meta-material antennas. For more information, please visit www.ga-asi.com.
Predator, Reaper, Avenger, Lynx, and Claw are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
About GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is a global first tier supplier of wing, fuselage and engine structures, nacelle systems, landing gear and wiring systems, transparencies, ice protection systems and aftermarket services, with sales of GBP2.5bn in 2015 and a global workforce of over 17,000 employees. It has a significant participation on all major aircraft programmes today and a broad customer base spanning commercial, military, business aerospace and space markets. The company’s extensive engineering capability and clear focus on targeted innovation has created technological and manufacturing leads in each of its areas of expertise.
About Fokker Technologies
Fokker Technologies is a business unit of GKN Aerospace and a leading global aerospace specialist that develops and manufactures highly engineered advanced aircraft systems and components for aircraft manufacturers and provides integrated maintenance services and products for aircraft owners and operators. The company was founded in 1919. Headquartered in Papendrecht, the Netherlands, Fokker Technologies operates facilities in the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, USA, China, India and Singapore, and employs approximately 4,900 people. For the year ended 31 December 2014, reported revenue was €758 million.
For more information contact:
Kimberly Kasitz
Public Relations Manager
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
+1.858.312.2294
kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com