Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
SkyGuardian RPAS Undertakes European Trials
Trials have proven the ability of the SkyGuardian to operate in controlled airspace as the UK gears up to begin operations with the Protector RG.Mk 1.
The SkyGuardian taxis for a mission at Waddington in Lincolnshire, the RAF’s principal ISR base. It carries a belly-mounted surveillance radar to represent the SeaGuardian maritime patrol variant. Landing in the background is one of the RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence gatherers that are flown from the base by No. 51 Squadron. (Photo: RAF Waddington)
The SkyGuardian taxis for a mission at Waddington in Lincolnshire, the RAF’s principal ISR base. It carries a belly-mounted surveillance radar to represent the SeaGuardian maritime patrol variant. Landing in the background is one of the RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence gatherers that are flown from the base by No. 51 Squadron. (Photo: RAF Waddington)

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has flown the company-owned prototype MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in British and Dutch airspace, during a series of recent trials that demonstrated the ability of this variant to operate in normal controlled airspace. The flight tests are also intended to advance the development program that will eventually allow it to fly in entirely non-segregated airspace.