The JMSDF has been testing an MQ-9B SeaGuardian in service with the Japan Coast Guard. Following these tests the JMSDF has decided to acquire SeaGuardians to fulfil its requirements of long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles. (GA-ASI)
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) intends to procure General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to meet its requirements for long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The JMSDF selected SeaGuardian for its long-endurance UAV programme following trials with the UAV since May 2023, GA-ASI announced on 3 December.
SeaGuardian has undergone different tests with the JMSDF including evaluations about using the RPA to conduct missions currently undertaken by manned platforms, GA-ASI said.
According to Janes All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned, SeaGuardian has a length of 11.7 m, a wingspan of 24 m, a maximum take-off weight of 5,670 kg, and a maximum external payload capacity of 2,155 kg. The RPAS has an operating altitude of 40,000 ft, a maximum speed of 210 kt, a maximum range of 6,000 n miles, and a maximum endurance of 30 h.
GA-ASI said it has integrated the SeaGuardians for the JMSDF with its Optix+ software, which gathers information from the SeaGuardian sensors, and other data sources to display the “full picture of surveillance information” to the operator. “This functionality makes it easy to task and direct its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) information in real time,” GA-ASI added.
“GA-ASI's Optix+ software suite rapidly correlates and exploits collected data into an easily shared common operational picture. Having multisource correlated data enables automatic detection of anomalous behaviours over waters,” GA-ASI said.
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