Air National Guard to upgrade MQ-9s
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has been awarded a $13.5 million contract to upgrade MQ-9 Block 1 and Block 5 remotely piloted aircraft for the Air National Guard (ANG), the company announced on 23 September.
The procurement includes Generator Power Distribution Modules (GPDM) and kits to integrate the Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) pod, LITENING pod and other mission payloads.
The GPDM and pod kits will provide the ANG with the ability to distribute more electrical AC and DC power to payloads integrated onto MQ-9 aircraft.
The BLOS kits provide common aircraft interfaces to payloads integrated on the aircraft’s outboard wing hard points. This will enable 5th generation fighter aircraft (F-35 and F-22) to communicate and share data with 4th generation fighter aircraft (F-15 and F-16).
In June 2020, GA-ASI was awarded a $12.1 million contract to upgrade MQ-9 Block 1 and Block 5 RPA as well as Block 25 Dual Control Module Ground Control Station (DCMGCS) and Block 30 Ground Control Station (GCS) for the Air National Guard (ANG).
That procurement included kits for High-Definition (HD) displays and special router/multiplexer, as well as Multi-Intelligence Smart Processing (MISP).
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![More Russian UAS go astray while attacking Ukraine]()
More Russian UAS go astray while attacking Ukraine
This time, the UAS flew into NATO airspace, though there is no evidence that they did so deliberately.
-
![UAVs in multiple classes proliferate in South Korea]()
UAVs in multiple classes proliferate in South Korea
South Korea is rapidly advancing its UAV programmes and counter-drone capabilities in response to increasing threats from North Korea’s unmanned aerial systems.
-
![British Army looks to ‘kamikaze drones’ for future operations]()
British Army looks to ‘kamikaze drones’ for future operations
Inspired by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the British Army has one eye on the future as it develops its ability to operate FPV UAS.
-
![Belarus fighter jet shoots down Russian drone]()
Belarus fighter jet shoots down Russian drone
The confrontation followed a history of untroubled fly-throughs by similar drones en route to Ukraine.
