The security environment in Europe today is more unstable than at any time since the Cold War. When the threat is so dynamic, preventing further conflict starts with reliable, trustworthy information.
That’s why the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® and its maritime counterpart, the SeaGuardian®, are the first choice for airborne surveillance and reconnaissance missions for nations in Europe and around the world.
European heads of state and government have made it clear that unmanned surveillance capabilities are needed to support critical overland operations. Hostile activities that undermine peace can only be prevented if they are detected early. MQ-9B has what it takes to ensure this.
This is why Belgium, Poland and the United Kingdom have purchased the system. And the list of other international users continues to grow.
SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian are based on a proven platform and represent a significant advance over the already very capable MQ-9A. And because it is derived from an existing design, users get a new UAS at a fraction of the cost of competing products or a new development. The aircraft offers unmatched endurance in its class – more than 30 hours in some configurations – but also a range of additional capabilities that are continually evolving.
The MQ-9B is the Swiss army knife of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and is suitable for naval warfare over and under water as well as for action and signals intelligence. The MQ-9B is also armed against hybrid electronic and kinetic attacks, which increases its survivability against threats from rivals.
Its operational spectrum, flexibility and growing numbers in Europe offer opportunities for closer military cooperation between European partners and for reducing operational costs through greater commonality across the continent.
The ever-expanding customer base in Europe means that the countries can achieve even greater interoperability and forge even closer security relationships through mutually beneficial agreements such as cross-border maintenance contracts and the stocking of spare parts.
What’s more, SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian are designed from start to finish to integrate seamlessly into NATO networks and existing system alliances. And MQ-9B can do all this while operating in busy civil airspace without any special precautions.
In May, the British Military Aviation Authority granted the MQ-9B a military type certificate, certifying that it has passed a rigorous airworthiness test and can be operated safely without geographical restrictions, including over populated areas.
This was a unique milestone for a large unmanned aircraft system and opened the door for MQ-9B to overcome further such limitations across Europe.
The software revolution
SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian are also equipped with industry-leading ground control systems based on the advanced software environment of General Atomics software environment. GA-ASI software correlates sensor data into a clear situational picture, providing operators with actionable information and an intuitive user experience.
The company’s systems bring together the full range of advanced software products, capabilities and people to unleash the latest in advanced computing technology, including autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
For MQ-9B, our software combines data from multiple sensors into a unified operational picture. In practice, this means that a single SeaGuardian or SkyGuardian operator can operate an entire ISR sensor suite instead of needing a separate specialist for each payload.
In the GA-ASI software environment, operators can also fly multiple aircraft and take advantage of autonomy through advanced target correlation / machine learning.
The net effect is that operators get a better overall picture and optimized coordination between flight and sensor operations, resulting in a better and more effective system with less training and smaller crews.
The software also enables MQ-9B to utilize the latest developments in command and control. High-quality sensor data can generate enormous bandwidth requirements that can overwhelm the limited low-earth orbit satellite links that provide global internet coverage. GA-ASI has solved this problem with software that scales the data so that it can be easily transported over a secure commercial satellite link.
With its unmatched endurance and ever-increasing capabilities that reduce manpower, training and infrastructure requirements, MQ-9B has become the first choice for allied nations around the world.
