Industry responds to Norwegian unmanned HALE ISR requirement

Seen in its maritime SeaGuardian fit, the MQ-9B is being pitched to Norway to fulfil its unmanned high-altitude long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirement. (GA-ASI)

Two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have responded to a request for information (RFI) to provide Norway with an unmanned high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) and Northrop Grumman told Janes in March that they had responded to the RFI to field such a capability from the Norwegian Arctic island of Andøya from 2029, pitching the MQ-9B SeaGuardian and MQ-4C Triton respectively.

“General Atomics has responded, and we remain very enthusiastic about the roles and missions MQ-9B SeaGuardian can provide for Norway,” GA-ASI spokesperson Mark Brinkley told Janes on 19 March, days after Triton project manager Brad Champion said, “There is much that Triton can do within the Norwegian theatre specifically, and within the High North generally.”

Janes understands that no other OEM has been approached by the Norwegian government for the requirement that was identified in the country's Long-Term Defence Plan (LTDP). It is to be based out of Andøya Air Station, which is to be reconstituted as a military base after the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) ceased flying there in 2016.

SeaGuardian

In terms of the SeaGuardian bid, Brinkley pointed to the electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) video, 360° maritime radar coverage, and full signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities of the maritime variant of the SkyGuardian (also known as Protector in the United Kingdom). “In addition, MQ-9B is the only remotely piloted aircraft able to perform the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission, including sonobuoy monitoring and deployment, allowing it to enhance Norway's existing fleet of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft,” he said.