SeaGuardian is the maritime version of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). MQ-9B will become the world’s most advanced Robotic Process Automation (RPA) when the first variant is delivered to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) as the PROTECTOR RG Mk1 in the early 2020s.

“PROTECTOR will be a step change for us in terms of capability,” said RAF Group Captain Lyndon Jones. “The new aircraft will offer greater range and endurance and will be certified to fly in the UK airspace.”

As the UK awaits its first delivery, demand from other parts of the world continues to build.

Global Impact

On 11 July 2018 MQ-9B became the first Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) RPA system to complete a trans-Atlantic flight when it landed at the RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK. The flight originated from GA-ASI’s Flight Test and Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA.

In addition to the UK and the US, countries such as Italy and France have GA-ASI MQ-9A systems in their inventory, and the United Arab Emirates operates the Predator RPA. Spain and the Netherlands have MQ-9 systems on order. Discussions are ongoing with several other countries.

Legacy

The MQ-9B leverages the mature system architecture of the legacy MQ-9A and its more than two million flight hours, while incorporating enhancements that support mission capability, global industrial expertise, and its goal of achieving unfettered access to national and international airspace.

As a truly multi-mission aircraft, nine external hardpoints on MQ-9B offer unmatched configurability