
MQ-9B Seaguardian during the maritime capabilities demonstration flight over Southern California waters in September 2020. GA-ASI picture.
NavalNews reports on the Maritime version of the Predator UAV, the MQ-9B Seaguardian, including its sensors and market success.
In addition to different sensors, this model is different from the MQ-9s that the Coast Guard has flown with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in that they are intended to operate in civilian airspace. CBP has been operating MQ-9 UAVs for 15 years.
Congress seems not only willing to support Coast Guard operation of land based medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAVs like the Seaguardian. They are actually pushing the Coast Guard. They can not seem to understand why we have not done it already.
In addition to the possibilities of use in the drug transit zones, these long range, long endurance aircraft could be especially useful in detecting IUU activity in the Western Pacific where there normally are no Coast Guard air assets.
Completed static load test on Wings. https://seapowermagazine.org/ga-asi-completes-full-scale-static-testing-on-mq-9b-skyguardian-wing-structure/
New radar for the MQ-9B https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/01/seaspray-aesa-maritime-radar-to-be-integrated-on-mq-9b-seaguardian/
Claim:
“Numerous countries use Leonardo Seaspray E-scan radars and the company has utilized operational feedback from these customers to expand and optimize the radar’s suite of advanced modes. These include Leonardo’s patented small target detection capability, allowing it to spot extremely difficult targets such as submarine periscopes and shipwrecked individuals at long range, even in very stormy seas. A key discriminator of Leonardo’s E-scan radars is their high reliability and fault tolerance that allows effective operation throughout a mission even if a number of individual radar modules fail.”
another alternative set of sensors.
https://seapowermagazine.org/raytheons-maritime-surveillance-systems-flight-tested-on-ga-asi-seaguardian-for-japan-coast-guard/
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Video report from Sea Air Space 2021. Info on MQ-9B potential as ASW platform beginning time 04:26 https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2021/2021/08/video-day-2-at-sea-air-space-2021/
Marines accept two MQ-9s after an extended period of General Atomic owned/operated lease. https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-corps-acquires-two-mq-9a-reaper-uavs/
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“Greece to purchase SeaGuardian MQ-9B UAV amid tensions with Turkey” https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2022/july/11887-greece-to-purchase-seaguardian-mq-9b-uav-amid-tensions-with-turkey.html
This is a “sponsored” report, meaning it is something of a paid advertisement, but it is interesting. “UK Protector leads MQ-9B development in Europe” https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/uk-protector-leads-mq-9b-development-in-europe/
“Taiwan to purchase four SeaGuardian MQ-9B UAV from US” https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2022/september/12142-taiwan-to-purchase-four-seaguardian-mq-9b-uav-from-us.html
“Navy Fast-Tracks Contract for MQ-9 Reaper Advanced Network Pod” https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-fast-tracks-contract-for-mq-9-reaper-advanced-network-pod/
ISR in a maritime environment. CG might be interested.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian Featured In US Navy Group Sail Exercise https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/mq-9b-seaguardian-featured-in-us-navy-group-sail-exercise/
SEAGUARDIAN® USED BY USN IN SUPPORT OF INTEGRATED BATTLE PROBLEM https://seapowermagazine.org/seaguardian-used-by-usn-in-support-of-integrated-battle-problem/