General Atomics Sees Continued Interest in MQ-9B

General Atomics snagged a new contract with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) for 3 of their MQ-9B SkyGuardians.

AFSOC now becomes the first US customer for the -9B model, an easy transition given its history operating the MQ-9A Reaper over the past 14 years. The new SkyGuardian will take up a "key role in developing AFSOC’s new Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) concept," which expects the AFSOC to project air power from far beyond the horizon. The A2E system will hinge on a similar idea to the older USAF "High-Low" concept, where larger, pricier elements like the SkyGuardian will be accompanied by smaller, expendable UAS assets for use in denied environments.

“We’re very excited to continue our great partnership with AFSOC well into the future,” said David R. Alexander, president of General Atomics. “MQ-9B is the ideal platform for inserting air-launched effects into potentially hostile environments. The MQ-9B’s combination of range, endurance, reduced manpower footprint, and overall flexibility will make it a true centerpiece of AFSOC’s future family of advanced UAS systems.”

Since being unveiled, the MQ-9B has been picking up a good deal of interest from customers around the world. Recent wins include a contract with the UK MoD, where the SkyGuardian was selected for the Protector program. The Belgian MoD has signed a similar deal, and the Japanese Coast Guard will begin operating a maritime configuration, the SeaGuardian in April 2023.

FMI: www.ga-asi.com