General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is developing the addition of long-range standoff weapons to its MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian.
Demand continues from naval and air warfighters for platforms that can hold targets at risk from great ranges, especially over the expanses of air and water in the Western Pacific. That’s why GA-ASI engineers have begun the work of adapting MQ-9B’s payload, stability, range, and other features to accommodate the new generation of extended-range precision weapons.
The company has performed all the performance analytics and is confident in MQ-9B’s ability to carry long-range weapons over long distances. Possible weapons include Lockheed Martin’s joint air-to-surface standoff missile and long-range anti-ship missile, as well as the Kongsberg/Raytheon joint strike missile.
According to GA-ASI, a mission profile might look like this: MQ-9Bs could launch from several friendly bases in the Western or Southern Pacific, fly to a holding point, and loiter there outside a hostile power’s weapons engagement zone. If the order came to release the weapons, the aircraft could launch them in coordination with other operations.
GA-ASI plans to fly at least one of these new weapons as early as 2026.
In addition to the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian models, MQ-9B also includes the Protector RG Mk1 that is currently being delivered to the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF). GA-ASI also has MQ-9B procurement contracts with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Taiwan, and the US Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command.