A Predator B unmanned aircraft operated by the Italian air force. GKN Aerospace's Fokker subsidiary is establishing a production line in The Netherlands to manufacture landing gear for the aircraft, the company announced this week. Photo courtesy of GA-ASI

April 27 (UPI) -- The Fokker business unit of GKN Aerospace has opened a production line in the Netherland's for the manufacture of landing gear systems for Predator B drones.

The factory is located in Helmond, the Netherlands, and is highly automated, GKN said.


"We are proud to manufacture the landing gear of the innovative Predator B system for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems," Michiel van der Maat, vice president of Fokker Technologies, said in a press release, adding that "our teams have been working closely together to achieve this great milestone."

GKN Aerospace's Fokker business is the in-country partner of U.S.-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc and have worked together to sell the Predator B remotely piloted aircraft to the Dutch military.

"We are committed to substantial European industrial involvement on our aircraft systems," said Linden Blue, chief executive officer of GA-ASI. "Fokker's production of the Predator B landing gear system is just one of the major areas of collaboration with European industry."

The Predator B is a weapon-capable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drone with a maximum speed of 135 miles per hour and an endurance of 24 hours.

GA-ASI and Fokker are exploring possible collaboration in using advanced composites materials in the Predator B landing gear to reduce wight and also improve production lead times.