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.

FMI: www.uav.com