MQ-9B SkyGuardian achieves new milestone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAS has completed an FAA-approved flight from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, through national airspace to the Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, California.
The flight lasted for approximately one hour and 45 minutes, and covered a distance of 275 miles. The UAS required FAA approval to fly through various classes of non-restricted airspace for the trip.
The MQ-9B is a STANAG 4671 compliant version of the Predator B product line. STANAG 4671 is the NATO airworthiness standard for UAS.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is acquiring a weaponised variant of the UAS. A maritime patrol variant, SeaGuardian, is being developed to support open-ocean and littoral surface surveillance. All variants are intended to fly in excess of 35 hours with airspeeds up to 210 knots, and reaching altitudes of more than 40,000ft.
Linden Blue, CEO at GA-ASI, said: ‘This flight is another milestone in our progression towards delivering an RPA system that meets NATO airworthiness requirements for UAS. MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be the first RPA system of its kind with a design-assurance level compliant with international type-certification standards, and can therefore be integrated more easily than legacy RPAs into civil airspace operations around the world.’
Qualification testing for type-certification will continue over the next two years, with deliveries to the RAF expected to begin early next decade.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet]()
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
![AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems]()
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
