Draft:General Atomics MQ-9B

The General Atomics MQ-9B, sometimes known as Certifiable Predator B, is a single engine unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed from the MQ-9A Reaper by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI). It consist of three main types, the SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian, and STOL. The MQ-9B series was deisgned to meet NATO STANAG 4671, a standardized agreement intended to allow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate in NATO airspace.

TO DO:
 * Expand introduction
 * Add info on NATO STANAG 4671 & airworthiness
 * Explain differences in models
 * General work

MQ-9B SkyGuardian
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the first variant of the MQ-9B family. It was designed to meet NATO STANAG 4671 readiness, a standardized agreement intended to allow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to operate in NATO airspace.

Development
The SkyGuardian's development can be traced back to Hurricane Katrina when requests were made for MQ-1s and MQ-9s to be used in search-and-rescue efforts. The Predator family, at this point, lacked FAA-compliant See-And-Avoid systems, and thus did not have authorization to fly in civilian airspace. An exception was made in 2006 to allow Predator-family UAVs to fly in U.S. civil airspace, but only for searching for disaster survivors.


 * SkyGuard 2012 Development
 * SkyGuard Lightning test
 * SkyGuard Endurance test

Official development began on the SkyGuardian in 2012 as a company-funded venture. It was designed alongside extended-range models of the MQ-9, notably the Predator-B/ER, which first flew in 2016. The Predator-B/ER featured 79 ft long wings with winglets, which would go on to be used on the SkyGuardian design.

The SkyGuardian completed its first test flight in November 2017. It made a record-breaking 48-hour flight on 18 May 2017, the longest in the Predator series. It completed its first FAA-approved flight on 16 August 2017.

Design
The SkyGuardian features multiple changes from the MQ-9A, including a larger 79 ft wing, longer 38 ft fuselage, winglets, and different nose design. The general shape of the MQ-9 is retained, however. It has a Y-tail with a single Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine in a pusher configuration and a high definition electro-optical/infrared sensor ball under the nose. It complies with NATO STANAG 4671, which includes meeting requirements with lightning protection, different composite materials, and sense and avoid technology.

Operational History
NEED TO IMPLEMENT CITATIONS:
 * First Flight
 * AFSOC Order
 * GA-ASI TeamSkyGuardianCanada
 * ESD Canada Aquisition
 * GA-ASI Canada Aquisition

Operators

 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * The Royal Air Force took delivery of its first SkyGuardian, with the designation Protector RG1, in September 2023. Initial operating capability is expected to be achieved in 2025, with full operating capability expected for the following year.

Future Operators

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * Belgium ordered four MQ-9B SkyGuardians in 2018.
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * Canada ordered 11 SkyGuardians in 2023, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028.
 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * The UAE has ordered 18 SkyGuardians.
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * The United States Air Force Special Operations Command ordered three SkyGuardians in March 2023.
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * Taiwan has ordered 4 SkyGuardians.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian
The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a maritime patrol variant of the MQ-9B, outfitted with anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance capabilities. These include the Leonardo Seaspray 7500E V2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a inverse synthetic-aperture radar, and the option to be fitted with a Multimode 360 Maritime Surface Search Radar. The SeaGuardian notably features the capability to be armed with sonobuoy dispenser systems (SDS), carrying up to 10 A-size or twenty G-size sonobuoys, alongside a sonobuoy management and control system. The SeaGuardian can carry up to four of each of these pods.

The SeaGuardian evolved from the earlier MQ-9 Mariner concept, which was a contender for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program. The Mariner featured an increased wingspan of 26 meter, an increased ceiling of 52000 feet, and a significantly increased internal fuel load of 1150 lb. This all led to an increased endurance of 49 or more hours. The Mariner was designed to be carrier-based, featuring folding wings and a smaller or removed ventral fin. It also would have had six pylons, capable of carrying up to 3000 lb of payload.

NEED TO IMPLEMENT CITATIONS:
 * Indian Operation (1)
 * Japanese Operation
 * SeaGuard First Flight

Operators

 * 🇮🇳 India
 * The Indian Navy began operating two leased SeaGuardians in November 2020. 31 SeaGuardians were ordered in 2023.
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * The Japan Coast Guard began operating (CHECK IF LEASED) a SeaGuardian in 2022 out of JMSDF Air Station Hachinohe. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and JCG are both interested in acquiring SeaGuardians.

Future Operators

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * The Hellenic Air Force ordered three SeaGuardians and two ground stations in July 2022.
 * 🇲🇦 Morocco
 * The Moroccan Air Force ordered four SeaGuardians in 2020.

MQ-9B STOL
The MQ-9B STOL is a mission kit that can be applied to the SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian to allow for the aircraft to conduct short takeoff and landing operations, most notably from aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships. The modifications include new wings and tailpieces, developed from the General Atomics Mojave. The wing is noticeably thicker than the standard MQ-9B wing, optimized to carry heavier payloads, decrease takeoff distance, and fold for storage on carriers. General Atomics has notably marketed the MQ-9B STOL in its SeaGuardian configuration, outfitted for maritime warfare and patrol operations, alongside other missions, including border security, mine countermeasures, law enforcement, search and rescue, airborne early warning, ISR, and various other mission sets.

Potential Operators

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * Australia reportedly showed interest in the MQ-9B STOL variant for use aboard Canberra class helicopter carriers. General Atomics has released at least one render of MQ-9B STOLs outfitted with sonobuoy pods operating off a Canberra class ship in 2022.


 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * Japan has been cited as a possible nation that General Atomics is pitching the MQ-9B STOL to, for use aboard the Izumo-class and Hyūga-class helicopter carriers.


 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * South Korea has been cited as a possible nation that General Atomics is pitching the MQ-9B STOL to, for use aboard the future CVX-class aircraft carrier.


 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * General Atomics displayed images of an MQ-9B STOL armed with Emirati weapons in February 2023 at a defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi. This comes alongside Emirati interest in the MQ-9B SkyGuardian


 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * The Royal Navy has reportedly expressed interest in the MQ-9B STOL variant. It would conduct operations from the country's existing Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. There have been no confirmed reports or negotiations for the Mojave model, however, despite the 2023 carrier trials.


 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * General Atomics has pitched the MQ-9B STOL variant to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for use aboard Wasp-class and America-class amphibious assault ships. General Atomics has released animations of an MQ-9B STOL operating from the deck of USS Makin Island, a Wasp-class Landing Helicopter Dock, marked with USMC insignia. The MQ-9B STOL has been pitched to the USMC as a way to enhance several aspects of amphibious assault ships, notably including anti-submarine warfare.

The United States Navy has been cited as a potential customer for the MQ-9B STOL.