GA-ASI develops long-range weapons capabilities for MQ-9B
So far, GA-ASI has performed all the performance analytics and is confident in MQ-9 B’s ability to carry long-range weapons over long distances, while providing a measure of persistence and endurance.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is developing the addition of long-range standoff weapons to its top-of-the-line MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian.
“MQ-9B continues to impress in the field and we keep adding to our global customer list,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We want to continue to build value in the aircraft by expanding into more missions. MQ-9B features extraordinary payload capacity, so it only makes sense to add to our mission sets with the ability to carry long-range weapons.”
So far, GA-ASI has performed all the performance analytics and is confident in MQ-9 B’s ability to carry long-range weapons over long distances, while providing a measure of persistence and endurance, the company said in a press release.
Company engineers and others continue to refine the technical aspects of this integration and potential concepts of operation, eyeing weapons such as the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, as well as the Kongsberg/Raytheon Joint Strike Missile.
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, the press release said.
