US Navy NMQ-1B Predator at NAS Point Mugu
On 6 November 2020, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), based in Poway (CA), revealed that they recently completed the first phase of a maintenance and operational support contract awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD).
That first phase involved the maintenance of a US Navy NMQ-1B Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that is based at NAS Point Mugu (CA), also known as Naval Base Ventura County.
The second phase will involve operational training support for pilots to operate the NMQ-1s, which will be used as targets in US Navy training scenarios. This phase is expected to be executed in early 2021, culminating with a Navy NMQ-1B operational evaluation flight. By the way, the N in the type designation is standard for test aircraft within the US Navy.
Early 2018, the US Navy was researching the option to acquire MQ-1 Predators that became surplus to requirements at the US Air Force. As known, the USAF retired the Predator from active service from 9 March 2018 and replaced those by the MQ-9 Reaper. Some government contractors continued flying the type through at least early 2019.
On 22 June 2020, GA-ASI was awarded a USD 27 million contract containing two Reapers, assigned to the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 1 Watchdogs.
The US Navy (specifically the SEALs) and US Marine Corps are dependent on small tactical UAS and they are in need of medium altitude long endurance systems. The MQ-1 received many upgrades through the years, including an upgrade to the turbo engine, which gave the aircraft an increased performance whilst flying at high altitudes. The MQ-1 also came to use with its sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance pods.
Scramble Magazine was not aware that the US Navy already operated the Predator from Point Mugu, nor the type designation NMQ-1 used, we love to learn your thoughts! Please let us know at
Photos (both illustrative for the type): USAF/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson and US Navy 020214