MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drone Has Just Unlocked a New Sixth Sense

[Starmix]

According to the report, General Atomics and Saab are pushing the MQ-9B SkyGuardian into a new era, bringing Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) to the remotely piloted aircraft for the first time.

The report stated that this drone can operate its sixth sense signals, warning, simultaneous target tracking, and seamless integration with other combat systems through line-of-sight and satellite links. It also enables crucial aerial awareness to detect and counter a wide range of threats, from guided missiles and hostile drones to fighter jets and bombers.

The report added that the upgrade is designed to extend persistent air surveillance to areas where AEW coverage is limited or prohibitively expensive, including over the open ocean.

Additionally, the MQ-9B is General Atomics’ latest evolution in long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft, designed to take on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, which stretches 38 feet (12 meters) long with a 79-foot (23-meter) wingspan and can carry up to 4,750 pounds (2,155 kilograms) of payload.

Source: NextGen Defense




An artist’s concept image of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft in flight, modified to carry the external pods necessary for its new AEW&C capability. Photo: General Atomics

 

[gwolf666]

What's being achieved with the MQ-9B SkyGuardian strikes me as a historic advancement in the field of military drones. For me, the most impressive aspect is that, for the first time, Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capabilities are being incorporated into a remotely piloted system, expanding its role beyond traditional surveillance. Personally, I believe this evolution reinforces the idea that drones are no longer simply reconnaissance tools, but platforms capable of integrating with combat systems and detecting complex threats such as missiles, fighter jets, or bombers. The interesting thing is that this type of technology allows for extending air cover to areas where maintaining manned aircraft would be prohibitively expensive, such as the open ocean. For me, the most significant aspect is that the MQ-9B combines resilience, payload capacity, and connectivity, setting a new standard in intelligence and security operations.