Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
General Atomics Teams with Edge for SkyGuardian Weapons
Included in the agreement are the UAE's Al Tariq family of PGMs
Al Tariq family of modular precision weapons
The Al Tariq family of modular precision weapons has been integrated on a number of UAE Air Force platforms, including the Mirage 2000 fighter. The system is among those slated for SkyGuardian integration. (Photo: David Donald)

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced an agreement with the UAE’s Edge Group for the integration of smart weapons onto the MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely-piloted aircraft (RPA). The UAE already operates GA-ASI’s unarmed Predator XP and hopes to acquire the larger and weapons-capable MQ-9B.

Despite being approved by the U.S. State Department in November 2020 to receive up to 18 SkyGuardians together with associated systems and weapons, the estimated $2.97 billion deal was frozen as part of the cancellation of the UAE’s F-35 fighter purchase. Efforts to resurrect the MQ-9B sale continue.