Increased Demand for Predators Fuels Growth in Facilities &
Staffing
General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of
unmanned aircraft surveillance systems, today announced that it is
expanding into a new production facility in the Sabre Springs area
of San Diego in response to greatly increased demand for its
Predator and Predator B unmanned aircraft systems.
"The tremendous demonstrated capability of Predator over Iraq
has generated a new level of interest by the US government,
particularly the US Air Force, and we are ramping up production to
meet their requirements for additional aircraft," said Thomas J.
Cassidy, president and chief executive officer of General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems. "The MQ-1 Predators and propjet MQ-9 Predator
Bs are the most successful unmanned aircraft systems ever
developed, and this expansion will not only enable us to meet the
immediate requirements of the Air Force for additional Predators,
but also increase our capacity to support other customers’
needs."
Following a year-long
remodeling effort, GA-ASI has begun moving its composite
manufacturing operations – including tooling, lay-up, wing
and fuselage assembly, and painting -- into a 160,000-square-foot
advanced, leading-edge production facility located in the Sabre
Springs Business Park. The new facility will increase the
company’s manufacturing floor space to over
800,000-square-feet and free up production room at its Rancho
Bernardo facility, where all final aircraft integration is
conducted. More than half of the components for GA-ASI’s
unmanned aircraft systems are manufactured on-site, a rarity within
the industry.
Approximately 100 of the company’s more than 800 employees
in the Rancho Bernardo area will be affected by the move. GA-ASI
employs nearly 1,200 Southern California residents among its nine
facilities in San Diego, Victorville and Palmdale. Growing its
employee population by some 15 percent last year, customer demand
continues to drive expansion, with current job openings numbering
more than 300. The company is currently seeking qualified
applicants for a variety of positions and will be hosting a job
fair at its Rancho Bernardo facility on March 3rd and
5th.
Predators have been employed extensively in combat operations in
the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. USAF MQ-1 Predators provide
continuous armed reconnaissance for US operations over Iraq and
Afghanistan on a daily basis, 24-hours-a-day. Predators are also
operated over Iraq by the US Army and Italian Air Force.