US drone maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Norway’s Kongsberg have completed the System Requirements Review (SRR) and the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the integration of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) into GA-ASI’s MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicle.
By Lars Hoffman / hartpunkt
According to a statement from the US company, the integration project is jointly funded by both companies and is intended to provide MQ-9B customers with a long-range precision strike capability. Both milestones were successfully completed on June 30 in Kongsberg, Norway.
The MQ-9B, developed by GA-ASI, is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) and includes the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian variants. Kongsberg produces the JSM, a fifth-generation stealth air-to-surface missile designed to engage high-value targets.
“The integration of the JSM into an unmanned aerial platform like the MQ-9B creates a high-performance precision strike capability that can be used both in conjunction with manned aircraft and independently. We are seeing growing interest in this operational capability in the defense sector,” said Jens Gjestvang, Senior Vice President Missiles and Aerostructures at Kongsberg.
The MQ-9B is already in service with the British Royal Air Force, the Belgian Armed Forces, and the Japanese Coast Guard. Furthermore, according to the announcement, the MQ-9B has been selected by Canada, Denmark, Poland, Germany, Qatar, Taiwan, India, and the US Air Force to support their Special Operations Command.
The German Armed Forces have ordered eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones intended for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. Delivery of the drones to the naval air arm is scheduled to begin in 2028.
This article was originally published in German language at hartpunkt.de. It has been translated and republished with authorization.
