GA-ASI and GKN Aerospace Forge New Strategic Partnership

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) along with GKN Aerospace have finalized a contract for GKN Aerospace to produce the sophisticated composite V-tails for GA-ASI’s cutting-edge MQ-9B SkyGuardian^® Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) at their Cowes facility in the United Kingdom. SkyGuardian serves as the foundational system for the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Protector RG Mk1 and has also been chosen by Belgian Defence and the Australian Defence Force. This marks another significant achievement in the decade-long strategic partnership between GA-ASI and GKN Aerospace, further enhancing GA-ASI’s substantial investment in leading UK industries.

“We greatly appreciate our enduring relationship with GKN Aerospace as a key supplier of essential aerospace subsystems that bolster our global supply network,” stated Tommy Dunehew, Vice President of International Strategic Development for GA-ASI. “We are enthusiastic about broadening this collaboration with composite structures fabricated in the UK. This ensures that not only the RAF’s Protector will feature UK-manufactured tails, but the entire global MQ-9B fleet will also gain from UK-produced tails.”

GA-ASI and GKN Aerospace previously engaged in a pre-production contract, where GA-ASI supplied necessary engineering specifications and tooling, while GKN Aerospace refined their manufacturing techniques and created prototype components. Under this new contract, GKN Aerospace will commence full-scale production of the V-tails from their Cowes facility to facilitate MQ-9B aircraft assembly.

For a decade, GKN Aerospace has been an international supplier for GA-ASI’s MQ-9 program, with this strategic alliance on GA-ASI’s premier RPAS commencing in 2010. Initial activities included the design and creation of the “fit and forget” fuel bladder system in Portsmouth, UK, followed by the manufacturing of fuel bladders in the USA. Currently, GKN Aerospace produces a variety of components, including an innovative lightweight landing gear system manufactured in the Netherlands.

Krisstie Kondrotis, President of GKN Aerospace’s Defence division, remarked: “We are profoundly honored to be a vital supplier for GA-ASI on the MQ-9B initiative, and this contract fortifies that collaboration. We have ambitious aspirations to expand our Defence sector, making this an essential milestone for GKN Aerospace, and particularly for the Cowes facility, which sets a foundation for ongoing growth in the UK for advanced aerostructures manufacturing. GA-ASI leads the market in RPAS, while GKN Aerospace excels in market and technological advancements in aerostructures, specialized products, and lightweight innovations. Our long-lasting partnership continues to exemplify the strong dedication both companies share.”