Aero India 2019 was a great opportunity for General Atomics (GA) to showcase our extensive Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) lineage and the Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) Group which includes products such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Aircraft Arresting Gear (AAG). GA is upbeat about the varied opportunities provided by our interactions with the government of India and industry partners. GA is thankful for the deep insights gained from our experience at Aero India 2019 and we look forward to a successful year.

Do you have a sense of a timeline now for the Indian Navy’s acquisition of SeaGuardian?

We are pleased with how discussions between the Indian Navy and US government have gone to date and hope an acquisition decision will be made shortly.

What distinguishes the SeaGuardian from SkyGuardian? Is SeaGuardian capable of operating from naval platforms?

The SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian belong to the same MQ-9B family.   What sets the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian apart from other aircraft is first, the aircraft is highly modular and is easily configured with a variety of payloads to meet mission requirements. Second, they can carry multiple mission payloads across nine hard points and includes a state-of-the-art Detect and Avoid (DAA) system for operations in national and non-segregated airspace. The SeaGuardian configuration, with its maritime patrol radar, provides unmatched ability to support open-ocean and littoral surface surveillance for border patrol, coast guard, and disaster relief missions.