United States, March 31 -- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) was named the winner of two awards during Aviation Week's 21st annual Program Excellence Awards last week. GA-ASI's United Kingdom (UK) Protector Program was given the Special Projects Award, while its Japan COCO (Company-Owned, Company-Operated) Program won in the category of OEM System Sustainment. MQ-9B is GA-ASI's most advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system and includes the SkyGuardian(R) and SeaGuardian(R) models, as well as the UK's Protector RG Mk1.In 2025, GA-ASI achieved the first-ever Military Type Certificate (MTC) for the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Protector RG Mk1, passing a rigorous airworthiness assessment and verifying its safe operation wit...