General Atomics unveils MQ-9B STOL for small Flat Tops

MQ-9B STOL
Animation showing an MQ-9B STOL taking off from Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8).
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) today unveiled a new MQ-9B variant at INDO PACIFIC 2022, the international maritime exposition currently held in Sydney, Australia. The MQ-9B STOL (for short take off and landing) is designed to operate from flat top amphibious ships.
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The MQ-9B STOL can operate from amphibious assault ships without the need for a ski jump or catapult. The new design features folding wings optimised for short takeoff and landing (STOL), as well as an enlarged v-tail.

Talking to Naval News at the show, General Atomics explained that the design is capable of operating from the U.S Navy’s America-class Landing Helicopter Assaults (LHA) and Wasp-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships. They can also operate aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra-class LHDs. 

MQ-9B STOL
The MQ-9B STOL can be fitted with sonobuoy pods. Note the RAN Hobart-class AWD sailing in the background. (Poster on display on General Atomics booth at Indo Pacific 2022).

General Atomics is pitching the MQ-9B STOL to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as an expeditionary, shipborne alternative to the service’s new MQ-9As. The USMC currently plans to procure 16 MQ-9As through the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Systems Expeditionary (MUX) program of record.  

In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have reportedly expressed interest in the design for operations from their Queen Elizabeth-class and Canberra-class vessels respectively. General Atomics is also in talks with unspecified “Pacific” countries. Naval News understands these countries are likely Japan (with the Izumo-class and Hyūga-class “helicopter destroyers”) as well as South Korea (with the upcoming CVX carrier). 

While the MQ-9B STOL sacrifices some range so that it can fly from flat top amphibious warships, it still has a significant endurance of roughly 30 hours, far more than smaller ship-launched unmanned aerial systems. 

Like the MQ-9B Sea Guardian, the MQ-9B STOL can carry and dispense sonobuoys, allowing it to provide long range, high endurance, anti-submarine warfare capabilities to any naval task force. Promotional videos released by GA-ASI also depict the MQ-9B STOL carrying AGM-114 Hellfire and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

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