Eager to build on the interest the SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian has generated in India and other countries in the region, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is showcasing the capabilities of its Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) at the ongoing Aero India 2019 in Bangalore.
The company’s display at the event includes imagery of the SeaGuardian, SkyGuardian and a 1/6th scale model of Avenger. There is also an Interactive Touchscreen Demonstration that highlights the company’s products and capabilities in a graphically rich and immersive environment. With the Touchscreen Demo, users learn about GA-ASI’s RPA sensor payloads and mission scenarios, as well as customizable range-ring module that allows a user to see the effective range and endurance of a variety of GA-ASI aircraft over real-world maps, including determining the approximate range and time-on-station (TOS) of aircraft equipped for maritime patrol.
GA-ASI has seen strong demand for the MQ-9B RPA from various militaries. According to reports, India will be the first country to add the SeaGuardian, which is the maritime version of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, to its arsenal. Other countries in the Asia Pacific are also reportedly eyeing the drone.
In June 2017, the company announced that the U.S. government had approved the sale of 22 unarmed SeaGuardian drones to India. According to a Reuters report in July last year, the U.S. has offered India the armed version of Guardian drones.
MQ-9B is the first remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) that has been developed to fly in civil airspace alongside manned aircraft. Both the MQ-9B variants – the land-based SkyGuardian and the SeaGuardian – retain the best features of the MQ-9A and incorporates many enhancements, all designed to make it a truly multi-mission aircraft and not just a strike drone. The RPA features endurance of more than 40 hours, rapid integration of new payloads using nine hardpoints, all-weather, short-field, self-deployment through SATCOM controlled ATLC, Lynx Multi-mode Radar and a company-developed Detect and Avoid (DAA) system.
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF), which has operated the MQ-9 Reaper RPA over the last ten years, will take delivery of the SKyGuardian, as the Protector RG Mk1, in the early 2020s. In November last year, the Belgium government announced that it had approved the start of negotiations with GA-ASI for the sale of the unmanned aerial vehicle.
New Milestone
In December last year, GA-ASI demonstrated a complete MQ-9B mission without the use of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) Ground Control Station (GCS).
Preflight checks were conducted through engine start using only the Expeditionary Command & Control (XC2) portable laptop, and subsequently, the aircraft was successfully handed over to a remote GCS via SATCOM. The MQ-9B was then taxied to the runway and the crew commanded its automatic takeoff using only the SATCOM datalink. The MQ-9B flew a short flight and automatically landed using SATCOM datalink and then taxied back to the chock location via SATCOM taxi. Control of the aircraft was then transferred back to the XC2 portable laptop, which efficiently completed stories-flight procedures through aircraft shutdown.
“Using a portable laptop computer in conjunction with SATCOM taxi and Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability [ATLC] is a game-changer for our customers,” said David R. Alexander, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI. “Instead of having a forward GCS relying on Line of Sight (LOS) communication, this advanced capability greatly reduces manpower and ensures that the remote pilots can be far away from any potential conflict.”
The XC2 laptop leverages GA-ASI’s Advanced Cockpit developments by porting select capabilities to a ruggedized laptop. Using a laptop, a forward-deployed maintainer can employ automated pre-flight checklists that reduce pre-flight times by up to 50 percent. This capability also reduces the airlift requirements by eliminating the need for a forward-deployed GCS.
The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut / TNI AL) recently launched two Pari-class patrol vessels. Constructed by PT…
A delegation from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia / TUDM) is reportedly set to engage in…
VARD, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group based in Norway, secured a contract to construct two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels…
Leonardo announced the finalization of an agreement to sell its Underwater Armaments Systems (UAS) division to Fincantieri on Thursday. “The…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is partnering with Shift5 to integrate the company’s onboard cyber anomaly detection and predictive…
The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has finalised 40 agreements totalling RM7.3 billion, encompassing seven contracts valued at RM1.90 billion,…
Leonardo, an Italian aerospace company, and the Ministry of Defense of Malaysia (Mindef) have marked a significant milestone during the…
Turkish land systems manufacturer Otokar is displaying its Cobra II and Akrep II armoured vehicles at DSA. The Cobra II…
Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA), a technology company based in the UK, proudly displays its advanced decoy launcher Ancilia, at…
The Czech Republic’s Excalibur Army has its debuts in the ongoing show. The company is bringing a few small scale…
Turkiye’s Secretariat of Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı-SSB), has two main objectives: modernization of Turkish Armed Forces, and establishing&developing a…
Malaysian company, Smart Weapon Storage Inntech Sdn Bhd (SWS), which has been around for 20 years, aims to extend its…
“We will continue to provide tailored solutions to our customers,” said Cem Altinisik, FNSS Corporate Communication Manager in an interview…
Tony Chegwidden, the Director of Business Development International at EDGE Group, is sharing his thoughts regarding the group’s focus and…
Boeing has advanced its manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology using a digital F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray. The testing shows…
Malaysia’s Lumut Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (LUNAS) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia at…
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, attended the unveiling of MALVUS SENSE SDN BHD’s CW-25H, a significant development…
KNDS France which is the main provider of artillery systems for the Royal Malaysian Army and a strategic industrial partner…
The upcoming 10th edition of Indo Defence 2024 Expo & Forum, renowned as one of the foremost international defence industry…
Malaysian firm MILDEF International Technologies unveiled its new Tarantula, 4x4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) at the ongoing DSA. Also…
Nurol Makina and Nadicorp (Badanbas) are showing their NMS 4X4 armoured vehicle in Royal Malaysian Army camouflage for the first…
South African defence firm Denel is presenting its portfolio of guided weapons and land defence systems at the show. “Denel…
The Malaysian armed forces are accelerating their procurements of modern military equipment in their quest to transform their combat capability.…
PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is currently participating in the Defense Services Asia (DSA) 2024 defence exhibition, scheduled from 6th to…
The French defence company and a leader in ground mobility solutions, Arquus is showcasing its proven range of defence and…
Tell me about Cendana Auto, and the products that you're featuring here? Cendana Auto is 100% a local Malaysian company,…
Thailand’s defence land system company, Chaiseri, is bringing three of its First Win (FW) series armoured vehicles to the show.…
Turkish weapons company Roketsan is showcasing its broad range of missile equipment at the ongoing show including its new generation…
Malaysia will buy 10 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods from the United States. The proposed sale will improve Malaysia’s capability…
As far as high-profile visits go, this one was right up there on the list. After speaking at the opening…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.