MQ-9B SkyGuardian achieves new milestone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAS has completed an FAA-approved flight from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, through national airspace to the Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, California.
The flight lasted for approximately one hour and 45 minutes, and covered a distance of 275 miles. The UAS required FAA approval to fly through various classes of non-restricted airspace for the trip.
The MQ-9B is a STANAG 4671 compliant version of the Predator B product line. STANAG 4671 is the NATO airworthiness standard for UAS.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is acquiring a weaponised variant of the UAS. A maritime patrol variant, SeaGuardian, is being developed to support open-ocean and littoral surface surveillance. All variants are intended to fly in excess of 35 hours with airspeeds up to 210 knots, and reaching altitudes of more than 40,000ft.
Linden Blue, CEO at GA-ASI, said: ‘This flight is another milestone in our progression towards delivering an RPA system that meets NATO airworthiness requirements for UAS. MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be the first RPA system of its kind with a design-assurance level compliant with international type-certification standards, and can therefore be integrated more easily than legacy RPAs into civil airspace operations around the world.’
Qualification testing for type-certification will continue over the next two years, with deliveries to the RAF expected to begin early next decade.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
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.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
