Page 13 - ADT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

Rising Following are excerpts from the interview:

Please provide an update on the MQ-9B
SeaGuardian interest globally? What are the
capability and cost advantages of the platform?
Demand MQ-9B has garnered significant interest from customers through- [ INTERVIEW GA ASI ]
out the world. The UK Ministry of Defence selected MQ-9B
SkyGuardian for its MQ-9B Protector program, and recently con-
cluded the production contract for deliveries to the Royal Air Force.
SkyGuardian was selected by the Australian Defence Force under
Project Air 7003, and the Belgian Ministry of Defense signed a
contract for SkyGuardian in August. The United Arab Emirates were
THE NEWLY ADDED ANTI- approved for the procurement of 18 MQ-9B in November last year
SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW) and signed a contract in January this year.
CAPABILITY ON THE MQ-9B The SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian are both MQ-9B RPA. The pri-
SEAGUARDIAN HAS EVOKED mary difference is the SeaGuardian features a multi-mode maritime
PLENTY OF CUSTOMER INTEREST patrol radar (MPR) with Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)
imaging mode and the SkyGuardian features a multi-mode long-
range overland with ground moving target indicator (GMTI) radar.
Additionally, the SeaGuardian includes Automatic Identification
System (AIS) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sonobuoy deploy-
ment, processing and control. This cross-domain maritime sensor
suite, augmented by automatic track correlation and anomaly-de-
tection algorithms, enables real-time detection and identification of
surface and subsurface vessels over thousands of square nautical
miles.
Both the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian deliver adverse-
weather capability – with lightning protection, a damage-tolerant
airframe, and a de-icing system – and are built for compliance with
STANAG-4671 (NATO airworthiness standard for UAVs).

GA-ASI recently completed unmanned aircraft
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) demonstration of
sonobuoy dispensing and remote processing on
a MQ-9A Block 5. Do you think this will make the
SeaGuardian even more attractive for navies?
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is one of a number of maritime
(GA-ASI) has received orders for anti-subma- capabilities that we believe customers are very interested in.
rine Warfare (ASW) capability on the MQ-9B ASW is not just a tactical capability, it is a strategic capability.
SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft system (UAS) The ASW test that we completed with the US Navy at the end
from two international customers. of 2020 demonstrated the world’s first self-contained ASW for
“We anticipate demand to be extremely strong an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The successful completion
for the MQ-9B SeaGuardian with its high-end of this test paves the way for future development of more ASW
maritime capabilities and low cost relative capabilities for MQ-9. We look forward to continuing collaboration
to legacy manned Maritime platforms,” says with the U.S. and global navies as they explore innovative options
Tommy Dunehew, GA-ASI Vice President of for distributed maritime operations in the undersea domain.
International Strategic Development. “The mar-
itime and ASW kits are easily added to MQ-9B Militaries are increasingly moving away from
SkyGuardians to transform them into MQ-9B
SeaGuardians.” maritime patrol aircraft and using RPA for
maritime surveillance. Do you see the trend
The company is highlighting the various mar- continuing?
itime capabilities of the MQ-9B at IDEX 2021. We do. GA-ASI believes our RPA provide great options for the
In January this year, the United Arab Emirates maritime domain, both as stand-alone or low-cost, complementary
signed a contract for the procurement of 18 assets. SeaGuardian’s Ground Control Station can share real-time
armed MQ-9B UAS. The deal is currently being feeds, as well as share collected intelligence with other agencies
reviewed by the Biden administration. and command centers on the ground using our System for Tasking

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY February/March 2021 | 13