Leonardo Provides Electronic Warfare Sensor for MQ-9B UAS

By Mike Ball / 17 Jul 2018

Electronic Warfare

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

MQ-9B UAS

Leonardo and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) have announced that the two firms have signed an agreement that will see the companies jointly investing to integrate Leonardo’s SAGE electronic warfare surveillance system onto the GA-ASI MQ-9B unmanned aerial system (UAS). Upon successful completion, SAGE will be integrated into the MQ-9B airframe without the need for an external pod(s). SAGE will be offered off-the-shelf and integrated into the airframe as an available baseline configuration for MQ-9B customers of Sky Guardian and maritime surveillance Sea Guardian configurations.

SAGE is a digital ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) sensor with a built-in 360° RWR (radar-warning-receiver) capability. It is used to detect, identify and geo-locate Radio Frequency (RF) signals, such as radar fire-control systems, and can alert operators to potential threats to the aircraft. SAGE can identify the location and parametric data of specific RF emitters from a single platform, enhancing the tactical electronic intelligence picture and situational awareness. SAGE is already in service with the South Korean Navy, Brazilian Navy and Indonesian Air Force.

SAGE will be integrated into the MQ-9B airframe, as opposed to being fitted via an external pod. This fit will deliver optimal performance (with least obscuration compared with a podded solution) while maximising space for other weapons/sensors as the system will not occupy any underwing hard-points. The lack of an added pod for the ESM capability also reduces the platform mass of the equipped MQ-9B, maximising endurance.

Alongside SAGE, Leonardo’s portfolio of advanced sensors perfectly complements the MQ-9B platform in its Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian configurations. With SAGE as the first stage of this on-going partnership, Leonardo and GA-ASI will work together to evaluate other ‘roll-fit-kit’ options, suited to specific mission roles, which can be proposed to customers including the UK. The MQ-9B has been designed in such a way to comply with the stringent airworthiness certification requirements of various military and civil authorities, including the UK MAA and CAA and US FAA, meaning that future customers could include civil organisations.

For all customers, the data inside electronic warfare equipment is just as important as the equipment itself. When threats change, users need to be able to keep equipment up to date. Leonardo’s expertise in the electronic warfare domain allows it to offer a dedicated Electronic Warfare Operational Support (EWOS) facility, boosting the effectiveness of all its EW products and allowing domestic and export customers to keep EW equipment updated and mission-ready. Leonardo’s EW products are open and programmable, enabling the use of existing indigenous EW data as well as evolving such databases with new threat parameters. Leonardo can provide EWOS as a managed service, or engage in knowledge-transfer to export nations to allow them to develop sovereign EW capabilities and expertise.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Elistair’s Tethered Drone System Integrated into Autonomous Port Security Project

Elistair's tethered drone system will provide continuous surveillance of ports from an autonomous vessel as part of the European SMAUG project

Jun 12, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
AWI Completes First Under-Ice Dive in the Arctic with an ecoSUB AUV

The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) has completed the first under-ice deployment of ecoSUB's smallest autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) the ecoSUB-µ5 during a mission in Arctic conditions

Jun 12, 2025
SatLab Geosolutions Introduces HydroBoat 1200MB Integrated USV Survey Solution

SatLab Geosolutions’ new HydroBoat 1200MB combines USV technology and the HydroBeam M2 sonar for real-time 3D surveys, offering fast deployment, high efficiency, and reduced operational costs

Jun 12, 2025
Trillium Unveils Lightweight Imaging System for Medium & Long-Range Reconnaissance

Trillium Engineering introduces the HD45-LV-R, a lightweight, high-performance imaging system designed to enhance LRR and MRR reconnaissance missions for modern defense platforms

Jun 12, 2025
How to Select the Right IMU for UAV Applications

GuideNav outlines the critical considerations for selecting an IMU that matches your UAV’s performance, durability, size, and mission requirements

Jun 12, 2025

Featured Content

Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Honeywell Introduces HG3900 Tactical-Grade IMU with Enhanced Sensor Accuracy

Honeywell has introduced the HG3900 IMU, a MEMS-based device with tactical-grade accuracy, offering significant SWaP advantages for precision navigation systems

Jun 05, 2025
TEKEVER Invests £400 Million to Advance UK Defense & Drive AI Innovation

TEKEVER is investing £400 million in UK defense innovation, creating 1,000+ jobs and advancing AI, autonomy, and electronic warfare through its five-year OVERMATCH program

May 29, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.