General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

General Atomics Aeronautical - MQ-9B SkyGuardian

Sparrowhawk^®

Multi-Mission Recoverable Small UAS

From the wing of an unmanned aircraft hangs the GA-ASI-designed and - manufactured Sparrowhawk – a small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) that delivers a multi-mission capability – ISR, SIGINT / ELINT, and jamming – inside a nimble and speedy airframe. Sparrowhawk's size makes it difficult for an adversary to spot, making it ideal for contested environments. An aircraft like the MQ-9 can carry Sparrowhawk under its wing in the same manner as a traditional payload, such as a sensor pod or a fuel tank. In an operational environment, when the MQ-9 reaches an area of interest on a mission, it can do something few remotely operated aircraft have ever done – launch the smaller UAS and then recover it in mid-flight.
Read more on how GA-ASI is expanding its UAS capabilities through small UAS.

When launched from an MQ-9 or similar platform, Sparrowhawk provides:

Expanded mission capability
Collaborative autonomy
Distributed and disaggregated sensors across the battlespace
Below the weather sensor coverage
Attritable sensor capability in highly contested environments

Features

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Today’s Gray Eagle 25M and Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing variant, also known as Gray Eagle STOL, are the most capable aircraft in their class anywhere in the world.

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Mojave Proves Its Unmatched Versatility in Unprecedented Live-Fire Demo

The short takeoff and landing unmanned aircraft demonstrator, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., already has set new milestones in getting airborne or returning to the surface.

MQ-9B: Securing Northern Europe

The peaceful nations of Northern Europe didn’t choose to rewrite their defense and security outlook for the coming decades. The decision was forced upon them by aggression in the east. Now that they’ve decided to act, however, they’re moving swiftly.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian®: Redefining Maritime Domain Operations

The MQ-9B SeaGuardian® unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is tailor-made to support the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and their allies and partners around the world against peer or near-peer forces.

GA-ASI Redefines Maritime Operations with Mojave

Making aviation history doesn’t happen overnight. Engineers and executives at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., were confident the short takeoff and landing demonstrator Mojave would launch from an aircraft carrier and then land back aboard the first time.

Send UAS, Not Troops, Into the Danger Zone

High-quality intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is essential for the United States and its allies – but gathering it can be dangerous work. In more than a dozen incidents around the world over the past two years, and many others before that, irresponsible pilots have threatened, harassed, damaged and, in some cases, destroyed American or allied ISR aircraft, often placing the pilots and air crews inside in extreme jeopardy.

GA-ASI’s Avenger Leads the Way in Autonomy and AI

There’s been a lot of talk about building a new generation of autonomous systems to help the U.S. and its allies preserve their advantage in airpower. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is leading the way. To understand how, consider the scale and nature of the challenge: Tomorrow’s Air Force needs large numbers of versatile, highly capable aircraft to scout ahead, share what they sense, take on tasks and act largely on their own.