GA-ASI Unveils Advanced Long-Range Armament for MQ-9B Drone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is at the forefront of developing long-range standoff weaponry for its advanced MQ-9B SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® platforms.
The demand from naval and air warfighters for advanced platforms capable of engaging targets from extensive ranges is on the rise, particularly across the vast air and water expanses of the Western Pacific. GA-ASI engineers are actively working on enhancing the MQ-9B’s payload, stability, and range to incorporate this next generation of extended-range precision munitions.
“The MQ-9B continues to excel in operational environments, and our global customer base is rapidly expanding,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “To further enhance the aircraft’s value, we aim to diversify its mission capabilities by allowing it to carry long-range weapons. Given its extraordinary payload capacity, this expansion makes perfect sense.”
To date, GA-ASI has conducted extensive performance analytics, demonstrating the MQ-9B’s capability to effectively deploy long-range weapons over substantial distances while maintaining a high level of persistence and endurance. The engineering team is diligently refining the technical elements of this integration, exploring operational concepts that include renowned munitions such as the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, and the Kongsberg/Raytheon Joint Strike Missile.
GA-ASI anticipates the potential for flight testing of one of these innovative weapons as soon as 2026.
Envisioning a mission profile: MQ-9Bs could launch from allied bases in the Western or Southern Pacific, proceed to a designated hold point, and loiter outside the engagement zone of hostile forces. Upon receiving orders, the aircraft would coordinate the release of weapons alongside U.S. or allied operations.
Beyond the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian variants, the MQ-9B also encompasses the Protector RG Mk1, which is currently being supplied to the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF). GA-ASI has secured procurement contracts for the MQ-9B with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Taiwan, and the U.S. Air Force, in support of the Special Operations Command. The MQ-9B has played a vital role in various U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail.
