General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully flew its new NATO Pod for the first time on Nov. 23, 2022. The test flight took place at the Yuma Proving Grounds using a GA-ASI-owned MQ-9A aircraft.
Photo: General Atomics
The NATO Pod is a joint development between GA-ASI and Sener Aeroespacial of Spain, and was designed to meet NATO airworthiness standards while increasing configuration and payload options for GA-ASI’s MQ-9A and MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
The NATO Pod was developed to provide customers with a customizable, multi-use pod for carrying sovereign, cross-domain Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors on MQ-9A and MQ-9B. The pod is a flexible, scalable, certifiable enclosure with the structural features to host a wide range of mission systems and meets DEF STAN and STANAG certification standards for airworthiness, including lightning protection and bird impact. It interfaces with common MQ-9 power and navigation interfaces, as well as the platform datalink connection to the Ground Control Station (GCS).
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