The Polish Army will shortly gain fresh capabilities thanks to unmanned aircraft MQ-9B SkyGuardian. They can operate for more than 40 hours within about 11,000 km. Moreover, drone maker is presently working on integrating MQ-9B platforms with LRASM, JSM and JASSM maneuvering missiles. As a result, unmanned vehicles will be able to harm the targets by up to 900 km.
General Atomics Aeronautic Systems (GA-ASI) has announced that it has begun work on adapting its unmanned ships MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian to carry long-range weapons. Talk about LRASM maneuvering missiles (Long scope Anti-Ship rocket – a long-range rocket to destruct water targets), JSM (Joint Strike rocket – a multi-purpose rocket created on the basis of the Naval Stike Missile) and JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile). They can harm targets from the air at a distance of about 370 km (LRASM, JASSM) to over 500 km (JSM). The JASSM-ER version (Extended Range) will scope the mark by up to 900 km.
– We want to make the value of our unmanned workers, expanding their ability to carry out further types of missions. MQ-9B have an extraordinary burden capacity, so it makes sense to let them to carry long-range weapons," said David R. Alexander, CEO of GA-ASI.
GA-ASI engineers are already working on adapting cargo, stability, scope and another features of MQ-9B so that ships can carry precise, high-range fresh generation weapons. The maximum burden capacity of MQ-9B is 2155 kg. The mass of 1 JSM projectile is about 400 kg, and JASSM and LRASM are even 3 times heavier (1000–1200 kg). GA-ASI has already conducted performance analyses that confirm that MQ-9B is capable of transferring long-range weapons to long-distance. This year, the maker plans to launch at least 1 of its unmanned missiles.
MQ-9B SkyGuardian is an American unmanned aircraft of the MALE class (Medium Altitude Long Endurance, average ceiling and long-term flight). The Polish army bought MQ-9B in December 2024 for about PLN 1.2 billion. Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish stressed at the time that the construction of drone troops was an absolute priority. And the armed forces are betting on both simple drones that can be produced massively, even with 3D printers, and on as advanced unmanned as MQ-9B SkyGuardian.
Several unmanned (manufacturer reported 3 ships) Poland is expected to receive at the latest in the first 4th of 2027. MQ-9B strategy will replace presently utilized by Polish soldiers unmanned reconnaissance systems MQ-9A Reaper, which were delivered in February 2023 under a leasing agreement.
SkyGuardian will increase the capabilities of the Polish Army for imaging (IMINT, SAR) and radioelectronic (SIGINT). The improvement work presently underway besides gives hope of achieving completely fresh capabilities to kill targets with long-range maneuvering missiles. Those that are or will shortly be equipped with the Armed Forces of Poland. In May 2024, the Armed Forces Agency signed a transportation agreement AGM-158 JASSM-ER missiles (deliveries scheduled for 2026–2030). Previously, AGM-158A JASSM and AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles were purchased, which can now be carried by F-16 C/D fighters Hawk, and in the close future besides via F-35A Husarz, who will fly to Poland in the second 4th of this year.
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