Lockheed Martin and General Atomics’ aeronautical systems business have partnered to integrate net-enabled weapons capability into the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft system to help improve the drone’s intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting functions.
The SeaGuardian UAS from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and the SeaVue multi-role radar from RTX business Raytheon will leverage Lockheed’s expertise in NEW technology to further develop targeting applications for future theater deployments, General Atomics said Thursday.
The NEW technology is designed to deliver expanded sensor targeting capabilities for precision targeting of long-range weapons.
“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 David Alexander, president of GA-ASI.
“We appreciate Lockheed Martin’s support in helping us prove out the NEW technology, which is an important component of our ISR&T capability,” Alexander added.
To prepare for the overwater range flight test, GA-ASI has been working with Lockheed to develop Link 16 messages to facilitate in-flight communications with weapons systems using the SeaGuardian Systems Integration Lab.