SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian: The Next Generation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

The SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) possess a number of unique advantages not found in manned platforms. They have much longer endurance (40 hours or more based on payload), are more affordable, require a fraction of the footprint, effectively operate between low and high altitude (500 to 40,000 feet), are employable in high-risk environments without concern for loss of aircrew and, like manned platforms, they’re built to be certified to fly in civil airspace.

These attributes, which have been exploited in over-land and largely permissible environments, are now being tested for high threat, multidomain missions, including maritime surveillance and undersea surveillance, as well as broad-spectrum, passive and active electronic warfare. These developments also network the RPA with other land, aerospace and maritime assets and enable role expansion, while highlighting the system as a true force multiplier.

In the New Zealand context, Sky/ SeaGuardian offers flexible and versatile capabilities to support whole-ofgovernment employment, with excellent potential to meet evolving military and civil Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles, including resource protection, support to security agencies, and responses to civil emergencies across New Zealand’s vast area of interest. No other single platform has the versatility, range and endurance to meet the broad requirements of the New Zealand Government.

Operational roles for RPA are in transition, which is in conjunction with changes to customer security priorities. While support to land forces and security agencies in the overland environment will remain a core role for these systems, employment focused on multidomain, high-end conflict, ‘greyzone’ operations (operations below the threshold of armed conflict including asymmetric methods, and often involving militia and constabulary forces) in the maritime environment, and support to civilian authorities are shaping development priorities for GA-ASI and its customers. In the civil-focused roles, first responder and long endurance/ range ISR and communication missions are expanding.

The GA-ASI MQ-9 Mediumaltitude, Long-endurance (MALE) series of RPA had their genesis in the 1990s, with an early version of the RQ-1 RPA possessing ISR capability. The RQ-1 Predator operated over Bosnia in 1995, with more capable, armed versions (MQ-1) commencing operations in the Middle East theatre in 2001. The significantly more capable USAF MQ-9A ‘Reaper’ RPA variants followed, along with the U.S. Army’s MQ-1C ‘Gray Eagle’ Unmanned Aircraft System. Today the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain operate the aircraft with great success. The Netherlands have also procured the system with deliveries to commence soon.

Less well known is the MQ-9’s non-military utility. For example, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection force has effectively employed the MQ-9A Guardian for both overland and maritime surveillance activities since 2005. In the past two years, GA-ASI has conducted maritime and civil surveillance demonstrations in Japan and Europe, with a further comprehensive maritime validation trial for the Japan Coast Guard planned for later in 2020. Further, the California Air National Guard has used the MQ-9 with great success combating forest fires by identifying hot spots, and providing critical environmental intelligence to allow more targeted and safer deployment of firefighters and equipment.

Production has now commenced on GA-ASI’s most advanced RPA variant – the MQ-9B SkyGuardian/ SeaGuardian. The UK, Australia and Belgium intend to acquire this system, with customer interest increasing throughout the world.

With the focus of RPAS customers now turning to multi-domain, highend, grey-zone and civil security operations, the traditional roles for MQ-9 series RPA are transitioning to support these missions, including in the maritime domain. With this refocus comes an increased requirement for networking and synergies with other strategic, tactical, and front line operational platforms, including those from civil security agencies. The MQ-9 RPA systems are well suited to be networked and interoperable during coalition operations or for support to civil agencies through their open systems architecture and common communications protocols.

Capability development and the integration of systems for MQ-9 series platforms is proceeding at an unprecedented pace within GA-ASI to meet U.S. and Allied requirements. The most prominent developments relate to Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Self-Protection systems, and advanced networking solutions, with flight trials on these configurations planned in 2020. Meanwhile, developments to the baseline MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian, including a Detect and Avoid System (DAAS) to aid in seamless operations in all classes of airspace, Portable Pre/PostFlight Equipment (P3E) to enable austere expeditionary operations, and a range of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for operations and processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED), are either operational or nearing completion. System testing of these new capabilities is ongoing in operational environments.

The MQ-9B is ideally suited to operate from a range of airfields throughout the world, including fields as short as 4,000 feet, by using an Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC). ATLC enhances the systems versatility and employment options due to its small footprint and it only requires a handful of essential personnel for support. The capability to auto-land at un-surveyed airfields has now been developed and is being further tested by customers. With such capabilities, the MQ-9B could operate more flexibly and rapidly reposition between deployed operating sites, when compared to other more strategic ISREW assets. With expanding multirole capability options, the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian offer impressive future employment potential.

Many of GA-ASI’s customers are acquiring a range of very capable ISREW weapon systems including P-8A Poseidon and the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. Operational roles for these systems overlap in some areas, with each providing an important contribution to the layered and networked Joint Force, while also supporting other whole-of-government agencies. This networked force creates a unique opportunity to maximize cross-domain capabilities. No longer can defence forces afford to operate platforms within a narrow set of roles. With the need to focus more fully on multi-domain operations spanning high-end, grey-zone warfare and civil support missions, with reduced warning/response times and asymmetric challenges, the requirement for versatility and flexibility within ISREW systems has become more acute.

The SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian enables a net-centric capability of multi-domain, expeditionary operations in direct support of Land and Maritime Surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Strike and EW roles, whether in support of military forces or civil agencies. The MQ9B’s ability to seamlessly and securely network with other Air, Sea, Land and Space systems, both military and civilian, creates an exceptional opportunity to further expand force employment options.

In the New Zealand context, the expanding capability and versatility of the SeaGuardian across both civilian and military support roles can provide ISREW coverage across the vast geographic expanse from the Equator to the Southern Ocean, including lowfootprint expeditionary or deployed operations. No better or more costeffective, long-range/endurance capability is available through a single platform.