Unmanned aircraft get closer to deployment

A new fleet of unmanned aircraft that may one day patrol the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan is one step closer to deployment, the manufacturer said.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the prime contractor developing the drones for the U.S. Army, successfully executed three automatic takeoffs and landings of the Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft system at El Mirage Flight Operations Facility, spokeswoman Kimberly Kasitz said.

The UAS test flights took place in late August and late September, Kasitz said.

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