Page 101 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
AIRPOWER SKYGUARDIAN 101
the shore-based command and intelligence centres,” GA-ASI said in a statement after the conclusion of RIMPAC. “During the exercise, the MQ-9B has effectively passed ISR&T infor- mation to various surface and air units, such as the USS Abra- ham Lincoln, guided missile destroyers, littoral combat ships, frigates, patrol boats, P-8 Poseidons, P-3 Orions and a litany of other US and foreign units taking part in RIMPAC 22.”
GA-ASI is also developing a short take-off and landing (STOL) package for the MQ-9B, which will allow it to use the decks of US Navy amphibious warfare ships (and might also be suitable for Australia’s two LHDs) or small, austere runways throughout the region. This capability – which consists of an optional wing and tail kit – can be fitted to any MQ-9B in less than a day. It has already been dem- onstrated with a Mojave MQ-1C Gray Eagle platform and ADM understands that at least one major NATO navy is interested in the Mojave concept to provide ISR afloat and during expeditionary operations.
EXERCISE VALIANT SHIELD
In another demonstration of the MQ-9 family’s utility, the US ran the ninth iteration of its Valiant Shield exercise in June 2022. Valiant Shield is a biennial US-only joint Field Training Exercise (FTX) which focusses on integration be- tween US forces. In 2022 the exercise took place in the
Joint Region Marianas area, including Palau, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base and the offshore Mariana Island Range complex.
ADM understands the US Air Force deployed MQ-9As to Palau during Valiant Shield, to exercise low-footprint rapid deployments to forward and austere
bases. Using an operating crew of
eight people, the three aircraft pro- vided persistent ISR for 19 days.
Elsewhere in the region, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) are now flying three SeaGuardians and have ambi- tions to purchase more.
“DURING THE EXERCISE, THE MQ-9B HAS EFFECTIVELY PASSED ISR&T INFORMATION TO VARIOUS SURFACE AND AIR UNITS”
Far from a (relatively-speaking)
simple ISR platform that was intend-
ed by the ADF to provide a persistent
overwatch of patrols in the desert, the
MQ-9 family has grown into a deploy-
able multi-mission capability, able to perform missions as di- verse as ASW, SIGINT and battlefield communications relay, and one which supports the JADO concept.
Perhaps we won’t see Air 7003 resurrected in its original form by the DSR, but there would appear to be a strong argument for the MQ-9B’s inclusion in the future ADF to fill these expanded roles. ■
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