On January 14, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) began construction of a new hangar at El Mirage Airfield in El Mirage, California. The facility is being developed in the high desert of Southern California, adjacent to GA-ASI’s existing Desert Horizon Flight Operations facility.
The project will deliver nearly 85,000 ft² of new hangar space dedicated to housing and testing GA-ASI’s latest remotely piloted aircraft, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian. The new building will significantly expand the company’s capacity to support growing production and flight test activity for the MQ-9B programme.
As part of the development, GA-ASI plans to allocate space for up to 12 new certifiable ground control stations. These systems are used to operate remotely piloted aircraft and form a critical element of the overall MQ-9B operating architecture.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by GA-ASI employees and local officials. Speakers included GA-ASI Chief Executive Linden Blue, San Bernardino County Supervisor for the Second District Jesse Armendarez, and Ryan Elmer, Chief Executive of Parkway Construction. Parkway Construction is serving as the lead contractor for the project.
Linden Blue said the start of construction marked an important milestone for the company as demand for the MQ-9B continues to grow. He noted that the aircraft represents the latest generation of remotely piloted aircraft technology, making it essential for GA-ASI to invest in the people and facilities required to manufacture and test the platform effectively.
International interest in the MQ-9B remains strong, with orders placed by countries including the United Kingdom and Canada. Germany recently became the latest customer, announcing the purchase of eight SeaGuardian aircraft.
Beyond supporting aircraft and ground control station development, the new hangar complex will include three aircraft launch pads and four additional gate terminals, further enhancing GA-ASI’s operational capability at El Mirage.
