MQ-9B SkyGuardian Flies Across Atlantic for RAF100 Event

 

About Trans-Atlantic Flight

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) made the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a MALE Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) on July 10-11. GA-ASI’s capital MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA flew from the company’s Flight Test and Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford station in Gloucestershire, England. The aircraft will then be on display July 13-15 for the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) airshow being held at RAF Fairford. The flight and display will commemorate the RAF’s 100th anniversary celebration called RAF100.

To read more about SkyGuardian and the trans-Atlantic flight, click here.

 

FAI Press Conference

Media Booklet: UK Industry Capabilities and Contributions to the Future of MQ-9B SkyGuardian

Videos

 

Gallery

High resolution images are available upon request to qualified media outlets.
To contact GA-ASI Media, please send an email to ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com

MQ-9B SkyGuardian Technical Specifications

OBJECTIVE
Perform over-the-horizon long-endurance, medium-altitude Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
CHARACTERISTICS
Wing Span 79 ft (24m)
Length 38 ft (11.7m)
Powerplant Honeywell TPE331-10 Turboprop
Max Gross Takeoff Weight 12,500 lb (5670 kg)
Fuel Capacity 6,000 lb (2721 kg)
Payload Capacity 4,750 lb (2155 kg) across
9 hardpoints (8 wing, 1 centerline)
800 lb internal (363 kg)
Power 45 kVA
Backup Power 2 kW
PERFORMANCE
Max Altitude 40,000+ ft MSL
Max Endurance 40+ hr
Max Air Speed 210 KTAS
Max Range 6,000+ nmi
CONTROL/DATA LINKS
Line-of-Sight C-Band
Over-the-Horizon X-, Ku-, or Ka-Band BLOS
Backup Inmarsat SATCOM
FEATURES
  • High Definition EO/IR
  • GA-ASI Lynx Multi-mode Radar
  • Precision guided munitions
  • Dual VHF/UHF certified radios
  • DO-178 and DO-254 design assurance for software and avionics
  • De-ice/Anti-ice system
  • Sense and Avoid
    (TCAS/ADS-B/IFF – with provisions for Due Regard Radar)
  • STANAG 4671 compliant type certifiable design
  • All weather capable including lightning protection
  • Fatigue and damage tolerant airframe, 40,000 hour service life
  • Automatic takeoff and land
  • Fire protected engine bay
  • Other customer specific payloads
MQ-9B SeaGuardian Mission Kit: (Optional)
  • Multimode 360° Maritime Surface Search Radar
  • Automatic Information System (AIS)
DOWNLOADABLE LITERATURE

Media Booklet: UK Industry Capabilities and Contributions to the Future of MQ-9B SkyGuardian

SkyGuardian and the trans-Atlantic flight

Air Tattoo – SkyGuardian: Most Advanced RPAS

Spec Sheet – MQ-9B SkyGuardian

Trade Shows & Demonstrations