DEFENCE
MQ-9B SeaGuardian and Tonga’s Natural Disaster Situation Situation Readiness and flexibility aren’t only critical in the event of human-caused crises or conflicts. On 15 January this year, the Hunga Tonga Huga Ha’apai volcano erupted. Tsunami waves of up to 15 m caused death, injury and significant damage across the Tongan island chain. The undersea cable providing Tonga’s external communication, including Internet, was severed, directly affecting commercial and private communications. Tonga’s main airport runway was out of action due to significant ash fall until 20 January. More than 80 percent of the Tongan population was reportedly affected. New Zealand’s response to the disaster was rapid and involved a whole-of-government approach, including with use of Defence assets. RNZAF P-3K2 aircraft flying from New Zealand conducted surveillance from 17 January – earlier surveillance was not possible due to the ash cloud and ash on the runway. The onstation period for the P-3K2 would have been around 3 hours if operating from Ohakea or about 5-6 hours if recovering to Fiji. Royal Australian Air Force P-8s from Amberley conducted surveillance starting 17 January but would have been limited to around 2 hours on-station with recovery to Amberley or up to 5 hours on-station if recovering to Fiji. The first RNZN support vessel arrived within several days of the disaster. When responding to such disasters, drawing on the force-inbeing is necessary. However, when analyzing how such a response may have been improved, it’s worth considering the potential use of 16
The undersea eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on 15 January 2022. Image: Tonga Meteorological Services / EyePress via AFP
other assets. This article assesses how the MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), if operated by New Zealand, could have provided vital situational awareness and utility to first responders in the wake of the disaster, particularly during the critical first few days and weeks.
MQ-9B Capabilities The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a long-range, long-endurance RPAS, capable of carrying a range of powerful payloads on missions exceeding 30 hours, based on a 6,000 lb/2,700 kg fuel load. It can operate in an auto take-off and landing mode from 4,000-foot airstrips,
Line of Defence
