Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DSEI Japan 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» Event News» Indo Pacific 2022»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 unveils MQ-9B STOL for small Flat Tops

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.

Benjamin Felton 10 May 2022

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.

General Atomics INDO PACIFIC 2022 MQ-9 STOL 2022-05-10
Tags General Atomics INDO PACIFIC 2022 MQ-9 STOL
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : Benjamin Felton
Benjamin is a freelance writer based in Australia. He covers Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region for Naval News.

Related Articles

MQ-9 are Transforming Maritime Operations

MQ-9 are Transforming Maritime Operations

Naval News Staff 18 Oct 2022
Remotely piloted aircraft systems made their name over land. Now, they’re transforming naval and maritime operations.
General Atomics Wins EMALS Order for France’s Future Carrier

General Atomics Wins EMALS Order for France’s Future Carrier

Xavier Vavasseur 20 Aug 2022
The U.S. Navy awarded General Atomics an order for the development of EMALS and AAG systems for France's future aircraft carrier (known as PA-Ng).
EMALS Aboard CVN 78 Reach 10,000 ‘Cats and Traps’ Milestone

EMALS Aboard CVN 78 Reach 10,000 ‘Cats and Traps’ Milestone

Naval News Staff 13 Jul 2022
General Atomics EMALS and AAG Systems Aboard CVN 78 Reach 10,000 “Cats and Traps” Milestone

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved