Powerful US SeaGuardian drone to get NEW weapons for long-range attacks

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc’s (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial system (UAS) could soon get smarter weaponry thanks to a new collaboration between GA-ASI and Lockheed Martin.

The defense giant duo will develop Net-Enabled Weapons (NEWs) capability to boost the UAS’ long-range precision targeting, especially against moving targets. This new capability will also enhance the SeaGuardian’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) capabilities.

NEWs are a type of air-to-ground precision-guided munitions being developed by several countries. They are an evolution of GPS-guided weapons directed to a specific coordinate set before release.

NEWs have the added capability of receiving updated targeting coordinates in flight via a common datalink and can be tracked by aircraft and other platforms connected to the same network. Previous weapons have utilized datalink to provide updated target information during flight (e.g., AMRAAM).

SeaGuardian’s NEW toys

The development of a common datalink now enables the transfer of weapon control from one platform to another. For example, control can be passed from an aircraft launching the weapons to a ground team with visual contact with an enemy tank formation.

The idea for NEWs originated at the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command headquarters in 2003 as a solution to the challenge of attacking moving targets in all-weather, high-threat environments.

The new technology provides expanded sensor targeting applications for the precision targeting of long-range weapons.

“ SeaGuardian’s demonstrated persistence coupled with its vast array of precision targeting sensors enables more efficient kill chains, especially in contested environments,” GA-ASI explains in its press release.

They added that GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS and SeaVue multi-role radar from Raytheon, an RTX business, will effectively leverage Lockheed Martin’s extensive NEWs expertise to refine further targeting capabilities for future theater deployments.

Initial testing was completed on June 5, 2024, with F/A-18s on the U.S. Navy’s W-289 test range in Southern California. GA-ASI and Lockheed Martin have been developing Link 16 messages to communicate with weapons in flight using the SeaGuardian Systems Integration Lab (SIL) in preparation for an overwater range test flight.

An important upgrade

“This is a very important system attribute for SeaGuardian to enable naval long-range targeting CONOPS against high-end threats at much less risk to manned platforms,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We appreciate Lockheed Martin’s support in helping us prove the NEW technology, which is an important component of our ISR&T capability,” he added.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS. Its multi-domain capabilities allow it to adapt to different missions. The U.S. has utilized SeaGuardian in recent demonstrations, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, and Group Sail.

GA-ASI is an affiliate of General Atomics and a leading designer and manufacturer of reliable RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) systems, radars, electro-optics, and related mission systems. It also develops other well-known products, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar.

The company has a track record of over eight million flight hours. GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems essential for delivering continuous situational awareness. It also develops sensor control and image analysis software, provides pilot training and support services, and designs meta-material antennas.