GA-ASI Partners with Lockheed Martin to Develop Network-Connected Weapons Capabilities for SeaGuardian

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) is collaborating with Lockheed Martin to deliver a network-enabled weapons capability (NEW) for GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), GA-ASI announced on June 27, 2024.

The addition of a NEW capability for SeaGuardian will enhance the aircraft’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISR&T) capabilities.

NEW technology offers expanded sensor targeting applications for precision targeting of long-range weapons.

“SeaGuardian’s demonstrated persistence, coupled with its broad array of precision targeting sensors, enables more effective kill chains, particularly in contested environments,” GA-ASI explained in a press release.

Using Raytheon’s SeaVue multirole radar, GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone will effectively leverage Lockheed Martin’s extensive NEW expertise to further refine targeting capabilities for future field deployments. Initial testing was completed on June 5, 2024, on F/A-18 fighters at the U.S. Navy’s W-289 Proving Ground in Southern California.

GA-ASI and Lockheed Martin developed Link 16 messages to communicate with weapons in flight using the SeaGuardian Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) in preparation for over-water test flights.

“This is a very important system attribute for SeaGuardian, enabling the implementation of long-range naval targeting concepts against high-end threats with significantly less risk to manned platforms,” GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said in a GA-ASI press release. “We appreciate Lockheed Martin’s support in helping us test NEW technology, which is an important part of our ISR&T capability.”