MQ-1 BLOCK X PREPRODUCTION AIRCRAFT

The Department of the Air Force contracted General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for USD 7,539,125 to develop preproduction aircraft for the MQ-1 Block X variant, an armed reconnaissance and surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. This contract supports the advancement of the Predator platform beyond current Block 10/15 configurations, which feature enhanced avionics, improved datalinks, countermeasures, and extended wing capabilities for extended endurance operations. The preproduction phase enables design refinement and testing before full-rate production, ensuring operational readiness for reconnaissance, airborne surveillance, and target acquisition missions.