The American Defense Company General Atomics has presented a new module that can be integrated with the spy drone MQ-9B Skyguardian and give it the ability to shoot energy aimed at an objective. The module, which includes A 25 kW class laserhas been shown in the event Be Air Space 2025Maritime and Defense Exhibition that took place last week in Maryland, United States. This advance is key to the operational implementation of high energy lasers (Helfor its acronym in English) aerial in distributed maritime operations, something in which General Atomics has been working since 2021.
Although the drone chosen to show the laser module is an MQ-9B Skyguardian, this capacity will be Available for MQ-9 drones familyaccording to Naval News, which would include the acquaintance MQ-9 Reaper That the United States is using in Yemen against the hutis that attack maritime traffic in the region.
The details about the module are scarce and the times of its implementation, unknown. The 25 kW distributed gain laser contains the module It will be scalable up to 300 kW in the future. The system is air refrigerate through a prominent dynamic air intake and feeds with A ultra high energy battery moduledesigned to operate in various environmental conditions.
General Atomics highlights that the system supposes an important reduction in size, weight and power requirementswhich is essential for integration into air platforms.
Images available at the event show the MQ-9B using the laser to neutralize Shahed type kamikaze drones that attacked a surface ship. Equip a laser in the MQ-9B could allow US forces intercept large amounts of low -cost disposable drones.
General Atomics has experience in laser rays stabilization, its thermal and light optical management for its UAS platforms and has demonstrated its capacity with the laser airborne communication terminal (LAC) -12. The LAC-12 is a sensor capable of transmitting and receiving communications delivered by laser at long distances, with a successful test between two aircraft completed in 2022.
The new module provides laser capabilities to detect and neutralize threats such as Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), missiles, intelligence systems, surveillance and recognition (ISR), rockets, artillery and mortars.
The modular and scalable nature of this Hel is what allows to easily increase the total laser power, according to General Atomics. In addition, its great optical opening and efficient cooling system allow significant reductions in size and weight, facilitating its use on air, land and naval platforms.
Skyguardian MQ-9B capabilities
MQ-9B Skyguardian is an advanced remote piloted aircraft system Continuous intelligence, surveillance and recognition capabilities (ISR) worldwide. It has a range of 11,000 kilometers and an autonomy that exceeds 40 hoursin any meteorological condition. It is certified for Operate safely in civil airspacesupporting both military and civil organizations in the collection of information in real, day or night. It is part of the structure of NATO and countries such as United Kingdom, Japan and Morocco They have also incorporated it into their fleets.
Among its characteristics are Lynx multifunction radar and an electrooptic/infrared sensor (EO/IR) high -tech, in addition to automatic takeoff and landing capabilities. It has a wingspan higher than that of its predecessors, reaching the 24 meters. Your operational roof is 12,000 meters and the superior payload capacity to 2,170 kilograms.
The new laser module is not the first offensive capacity of the MQ-9B Skyguardian. Although it is not intended as the main attack platform, it can integrate light armament (such as Hellfire missiles or guided bombs) if the mission requires it, but its priority approach remains persistent surveillance.