SAN DIEGO – 14 October 2024 – On Sept. 30, 2024, Common Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc. (G A-ASI) accomplished a serious milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA). The crew accomplished the “second lifetime” of fatigue testing, which is equal to 80,000 working hours and represents an essential step in validating the design of the airframe system. The testing is a part of the plane certification to NATO normal STANAG 4671, the place the plane will in the end be examined by way of three lifetimes, thereby proving the 40,000-hour lifetime of the airframe.
The complete-scale fatigue take a look at simulates the plane’s design service by way of the applying of repeated structural loading on the assembled airframe. The testing identifies any potential structural deficiencies forward of fleet utilization and assists in growing inspection and upkeep schedules for the airframe. The outcomes of the take a look at will probably be used as a part of the documentation for certification and can kind the idea for in-service inspections of structural elements.
MQ-9B is GA-ASI’s most superior RPA and contains the SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® fashions in addition to the brand new Protector RG Mk1 that’s at present being delivered to the UK Royal Air Drive (RAF).
“Full-scale fatigue testing is an integral a part of validating the airframe design and a key enter for the certification of the airframe previous to getting into service,” mentioned Chris Dusseault, vice chairman of MQ-9B in Europe. “The completion of the fatigue take a look at builds confidence for our MQ-9B clients that the SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian meets the stringent design rigor and is mature at Entry into Service.”
The testing is the validation of years of design and evaluation efforts. That is the second of three lifetimes of testing for the airframe. Two of the lifetimes simulate the operation of an plane below regular circumstances, and the third has intentional injury inflicted on the airframe’s vital elements to exhibit its resistance to operational injury that will happen over the lifetime of the air car.
Testing was performed from Jan. 31, 2024, by way of Sept. 30, 2024, at Wichita State College’s Nationwide Institute for Aviation Analysis in Wichita, Kansas. The airframe examined is a manufacturing airframe purpose-built to assist the take a look at marketing campaign.
Along with the RAF, contracts have been signed for MQ-9B with Belgium, Canada, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. Air Drive in assist of the Particular Operations Command. The Japan Coast Guard is at present working the SeaGuardian for maritime operations, and the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Drive (JMSDF) chosen SeaGuardian for its Medium-Altitude, Lengthy-Endurance (MALE) RPA System Trial Operation Mission.
You possibly can skip to the top and go away a response. Pinging is at present not allowed.
