General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI) Guardian RPA has concluded large-scale demonstration flights in Japan, the company announced on 21 June.
The flights, which took place from 10-23 May, were carried out to promote the system's civil and scientific applications.
The Guardian RPA has an endurance of more than of 20 hours. The RPA’s sensors include a long-range maritime surface-search radar, stabilised optical and infrared video cameras and an active collision-avoidance system, including a short range air-to-air radar.
During the demonstration, the Guardian RPA successfully demonstrated utility in humanitarian and disaster response by monitoring the volcano on Fugendake and tracking the spread of a small brush fire on Iki.
The aircraft also provided overwatch support to the Japanese fisheries agency during routine patrols; demonstrated the utility of company’s detect and avoid system which ensured safe operational flight throughout
Japanese airspace; and verified the automatic identification system ability of the SeaVue Radar, enabling rapid identification of ships at sea as a method of countering piracy and illegal fishing.
The sensor data collected by Guardian will be provided to scientific research institutions, and flight data will be given to airspace management organisations to help establish procedures for using RPA systems in national and international civil airspace.
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
Connect with us on socials
