Common Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI), a number one designer and producer of confirmed, dependable Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA) programs, radars, electro-optics, and associated mission programs, and EDGE, a world-leading superior expertise group for defence and past, introduced an settlement to combine EDGE good weapons onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian® RPA.
Below the settlement introduced on the Dubai Airshow, the 2 corporations will work collectively to combine precision-guided munition (PGM) and guided-glide weapon (GGW) options from EDGE onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian.
“We’re excited to work with EDGE on this initiative,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Integrating home-grown capabilities onto our buyer platforms is one thing we’ve achieved quite a bit, however we’ve by no means earlier than built-in a non-NATO weapon system onto one among our RPA platforms.”
The partnership marks the primary time that UAE-made good weapons shall be built-in onto a U.S. unmanned platform, signalling a brand new chapter in U.S.-UAE defence cooperation, and opening the door to additional collaboration.
Hamad Al Marar, President of EDGE Group’s Missiles & Weapons cluster, mentioned, “We’re proud to be working with Common Atomics Aeronautical. The chance to combine our good weapons on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian will supply the top person a number of dynamic, extremely correct, and cost-effective floor strike options. We sit up for working carefully with Common Atomics Aeronautical on this programme and to enhancing our collaboration sooner or later.”
The EDGE good weapons designated for integration embrace the DESERT STING household of GGWs and THUNDER household of cost-effective PGMs from HALCON, and the AL TARIQ household of modular, mission-proven, all-weather day/evening long-range PGMs.
GA-ASI hopes that its work with EDGE will result in extra partnerships throughout the UAE defence trade to be able to combine domestically developed sensors and weapons onto the MQ-9B for the UAE and different clients.
The UAE Armed Forces at present function GA-ASI’s Predator XP and are working with GA-ASI and the U.S. Division of Protection to amass the MQ-9B.
Attendees of the Dubai Airshow can go to GA-ASI at stand 1380 and EDGE and its portfolio of corporations at indoor stand 520 and outside stand S49 at Dubai World Central.
