GA ranked among top 50 defense contractors

[unhappycamper]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/10/generalatomics-defense/?st



The Predator C Avenger developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway is undergoing expanded flight testing.

GA ranked among top 50 defense contractors
By Gary Robbins
7:17 p.m.Aug. 10, 2014

San Diego-based General Atomics placed 45th on Defense News' annual list of the world's 100 largest defense contractors, a ranking heavily based on an affiliate's work on unmanned aerial systems in Poway.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems develops Predator, a family of high-altitude and long-endurance drones that have been been used widely in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company is part of General Atomics, which is headquartered on the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla and focuses on next-generation nuclear reactors.

Defense News said General Atomics obtained $2.1 billion in defense revenue in 2013, a drop of $311 million compared with a year earlier. The decline caused General Atomics to slip three spots in the rankings.

The nation's No. 1 defense contractor is Lockheed Martin, which pulled in almost $40.5 billion last year. The company has about 11,000 employees worldwide, including roughly 250 in San Diego.

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Meet the Predator C:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_c

General Atomics Avenger (who thinks up these names??)_\

The General Atomics Avenger (formerly Predator C) is a developmental unmanned combat air vehicle built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the U.S. military. Its first flight occurred on 4 April 2009.[4][5] Unlike the previous MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) drones, the Avenger is powered by a turbofan engine, and its design includes stealth features such as internal weapons storage, and an S-shaped exhaust for reduced heat and radar signature.[6] The Avenger will support the same weapons as the MQ-9, and carry the Lynx synthetic aperture radar and a version of the F-35 Lightning II's electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), called the Advanced Low-observable Embedded Reconnaissance Targeting (ALERT) system.[7][8] The Avenger will use the same ground support infrastructure as the MQ-1 and MQ-9, including the ground control station and existing communications networks.[4]

(now for the laughable part)

Avenger (Predator C)

Role Unmanned combat air vehicle
Manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
First flight 4 April 2009
Status Operationally Ready[1]
Primary user United States
Number built 3[2]
Unit cost
$12 million to $15 million[3]
Developed from MQ-9 Reaper

Since a Predator and control station cost around $25 million a pop AND the cost of our 'toys' NEVER decreases,