According to a PR published by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) on April 7, 2022, the leader in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), is pleased to be selected to support the Japan Coast Guard’s (JCG) RPAS Project. Operations will feature GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian® and begin in October 2022.
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GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian at DIMDEX 2022, Qatar. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)
SeaGuardian will be used to conduct wide-area maritime surveillance to support JCG’s missions, which include search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime law enforcement.
This project follows a series of successful JCG flight trials in 2020 that used SeaGuardian to validate the same JCG missions in accordance with Japan’s “Policy on Strengthening the Maritime Security Systems,” using unmanned aerial vehicles to perform maritime wide-area surveillance.
The MQ-9B Seaguardian has a length of 11.7 meters and wingspans of 24 meters with a maximum gross take-off weight of 5,670 kg and a fuel capacity of 2,721 kg.
It can carry 363 kg of payloads in the fuselage and 1,814 kg of payloads externally. It can fly at a maximum speed of 210 knots with a maximum range of 5,000 NMI at a maximum altitude of 40,000 MSL.
The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System is equipped with precision-guided munitions, Paveway IV laser-guided bomb, and Brimstone 2 air-to-surface missiles.
SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® are revolutionizing the long-endurance RPAS market by providing all-weather capability and full compliance with STANAG-4671 (NATO UAS airworthiness standard).
The Japan Coast Guard was established in 1948 with the mission of ensuring maritime safety and security. Since its establishment, the JCG has been engaged in criminal investigations, maritime security operations, search and rescue, marine environment preservation, disaster mitigation, oceanographic research, and maritime safety operations.
