The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the General Atomics MQ-9B is being evaluated as a potential carrier-based airborne early warning (AEW) platform for the Royal Navy.
In a recent parliamentary question, Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked the Defence Secretary whether remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) could be utilised for airborne early warning roles. Defence Minister Maria Eagle responded:
“The Ministry of Defence is actively assessing the potential of uncrewed remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to support airborne early warning (AEW) roles across the air environment. These assessments are part of broader efforts to modernise UK defence capabilities through the integration of autonomous systems. While current RPAS platforms are predominantly used for land and maritime surveillance tasks, future developments may enable their use in AEW missions.”
In a separate question, Obese-Jecty also inquired specifically about the feasibility of using the General Atomics MQ-9 for Royal Navy carrier-based operations. Minister Eagle revealed:
“Through the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership, of which the United Kingdom is a signatory, the Royal Navy (RN) has established that the General Atomics MQ-9 can be modified to operate from the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. As such, the MQ-9 is being considered as a candidate for the RN’s requirement for Carrier Strike Airborne Early Warning following the planned withdrawal of the Crowsnest Airborne Early Warning system when it reaches the end of its service life.”
The current airborne early warning capability for the Royal Navy is provided by the Crowsnest system, integrated onto Merlin helicopters. However, the system is due to be retired, prompting the need for a next-generation solution. The potential use of the MQ-9B represents a shift towards uncrewed and remotely operated technology, reflecting a broader trend in modern military aviation.
The potential integration of the MQ-9B onto Queen Elizabeth Class carriers follows recent successful trials of the Mojave unmanned aircraft onboard HMS Prince of Wales. The Mojave trial, conducted off the East Coast of the USA, marked the largest uncrewed aircraft ever launched from a Royal Navy carrier, showcasing the feasibility of integrating large uncrewed aerial systems with existing naval aviation capabilities.
The success of the Mojave trials has likely influenced the consideration of the MQ-9B as a future carrier-based AEW asset.
The MQ-9B
The builders say that the MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the next generation of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), delivering persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) around the globe.
“SkyGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40+ hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world—day or night. The aircraft is outfitted with the revolutionary Lynx Multi-mode Radar, an advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, automatic takeoff and landing, and features a longer wingspan than its predecessors at 79 ft (24m).”
The UK already operates a drone based on MQ-9B SkyGuardian, Protector RG Mk1.
Their service ceiling is 40,000 feet, although I would assume that will be lower if they can be adapted for this role due to extra weight.
Still a lot better than Crowsnest.
Crowsnest seems to have been a quite expensive stopgap. Probably would have been cheaper to keep a few of the old Sea Kings going.
Agree it was a waste of money and retaining sea king AEW would have been a better use of public money and more importantly the precious MOD budget.
These drones might be a suitable option but we will need to bring both carriers in to make them CATOBAR capable for the drone surely? I know they can launch and recover from the carriers as is now but what happens when we had heavy electronics and power generation as well as SIGNIT and SIGNALs tech onboard the MQ series? I’m fairly certain that will add a fair few hundred lbs of extra weight.
Project Ark Royal should fit some sort of drone catapult to the carriers. However, I believe that’s pending a budget. The much anticipated SDR should give some guidance on that when it’s published.
I needed a giggle…..two jokes in one paragraph….publishing the SDSR is side splitting…..funding Ark Royal is next level…..
Absolutely, I’ve suggested the same on numerous occasions and told the idea was ridiculous.
Here’s the thing, Carson Helicopters know every nut and bolt of the Sea King, they could have refurbished and upgraded a small number of air frames and carried out a small upgrade of the radar.
This would have been ‘vastly’ cheaper…
Crows nest has been a procurement disaster.
Not only a procurement disaster, but has also cut into the limited Merlin fleet.
With such a long flying endurance, even having to clear the deck for take off / land maybe doable. Cross wind and rough seas maybe still an issue.
With a wingspan of 79ft it will be an absolute bitch to handle even on the very wide flight decks of the QE’s. I suspect that if it does come to fruition it will look radically different to how it looks today.
I just looked up the Lynx Multi Mode radar. While it claims maritime surveillance it only talks about ‘vessels’ and vehicles and dismounts in the land domain. It does not mention aircraft anywhere in the blurb. It is used by the RAF in the surveillance role but it doesn’t sound as if it is suitable for an AEW role where high speed flying targets are the main threat?
Nevertheless, it looks like a very capable piece of kit in a very small package.
Cheers CR
I also was under the impression that Lynx was not designed to track air targets such as jets and missiles, so it will be interesting to see if that is in fact a capability it possesses.
Still, if Mojave is going to be employed on the carriers, having an extra surface search capability would be useful.
The other thing I’d like to highlight is that the Lynx radar only has a range of around 80km. For the drone to actually detect a hostile warship, it would have to be well within the engagement of most Russian anti-air systems, and almost all of the Chinese systems.
Well then you’ll know there’s a Russian or Chinese warship nearby, won’t you? 😉
Role successfully filled!
There is more detailed specification data on the General Atomics website (search Lynx radar on goggle). If you click on the picture on the bottom of the Lynx radar page it will open a two page specification leaflet. The image looks like it has 3 triangles on it.
The maritime search radius is 300km. It is a very capable little radar, especially as it is less than 69kg in weight.
Cheers CR
Many thanks – the only range listed on the main website (that I could see) was the 80km range. It’s good to know that it will be outside of the reach of the majority of anti-air systems, though HHQ-9B could likely still pose a threat.
Lynx isn’t the radar fitted to the maritime MQ9s, and it certainly wouldn’t be used for AEW
It’s a tiny little radar, it fits inside the nose in front of the gimbal camera (which is why the MQ9B is so duck billed) and has a miniscule swept diameter.
However, GA-ASI has integrated the Leonardo SeaSpray 7500e, which can be fitted under the fuselage. That’s an updated version of the maritime search radar fitted to Merlin, and that’s what we would use for the general ASW/ASuW version. But it also has a secondary air surveillance mode, so better than nothing by a long way.
It isn’t the main option for AEW, though. That’s a concept that was displayed at CNE 2023 (and referenced in CGI since), which involves three pods slung under the wings and fuselage. Two under the wings would have sideways-looking AESA radar panels, while the one under the fuselage would contain the processing and cooling units.
That is more capable, with updated technology, than Merlin, but needs work on the power generation to be the long term AWACS option.
At least we’re going in the right direction.
Three or four drones autonomously orbiting the CSG.
If what they buy has real limitations they can upgrade it, and MQ9 is an MQ9, bolt whatever your want to it
CNE 25 starts tomorrow. I wonder if there’ll be any updates.
Maybe some shiny new MRSS models, based off the new Strike designation?
CNE is where a lot of companies show off their new designs, it’s more enclosed and conference-like than Farnborough or DSEI, so I imagine it’s a useful place to have discussions with “the customer” over new concepts.
Still costs £2750 to go, though, and you need a company association.
The Seaspray 7500e would be a useful stopgap before the more advanced solution you mentioned could be implemented. The brochure suggests that the Seaspray 7500e has a range of 480km, which would also put it well outside the effective range of all modern air defence systems, including the SM-6/HHQ-9B, which I mentioned above as a potential threat to the drone.
Remember that when searching for a fleet in that way, the MQ9B would use ECM kit to search for the active radar emissions.
The enemy can’t shoot it down without turning on their radars, which instantly gives the ship’s position away.
The Lynx radar can use its GMTI radar capability to see moving objects. It’s primarily used for ground targets but it can spot air borne targets as well which is actually easier.
The secondary SAR mode on the radar can identify aircraft.
Combining these two modes which AESA radars can do simply via software upgrades allows for an effective AEW capability although it would probably need to be supplemented by an F35 or a Merlin for the actual control of an aircraft intercept.
This capability is good to go now and gives a very effective Maritime surveillance capability in addition to the enhanced AEW and it could lead to a longer term full AWACS capability.
Lynx isn’t AESA, if you look at the images it’s a standard SAR.
SeaSpray is the maritime search AESA with secondary air moving target capability.
Sorry my bad.
General Dynamics list AEW as one of the SkyGuardian’s mission sets, but the LMM radar page makes no mention of it. Is AEW covered by a different radar?
I think it’s more of a future aspiration than a current capability. At least as we understand AEW. As Sailorboy mentioned, there was a presentation by GA two years ago which discussed the underslung AEW radar under development. As for whose radar, he didn’t say, just that the partner wouldn’t be any surprise or words to that effect. I’ve not heard any whispers since. If I had to guess it would be Leonardo or RTX.
I’d like to highlight that the Lynx radar only has a range of around 80km. For the drone to actually detect a hostile warship, it would have to be well within the engagement of most Russian anti-air systems, and almost all of the Chinese systems.
Missile systems such as the HHQ-9B or 9M96 can strike high altitude, slow moving targets at ranges of up to 300km or 120km respectively. So, whilst this might be good against medium-size combatants and smaller, anything larger will make short work of the platform.
MQ9B is now a highly vulnerable platform even the jouthis take it down regularly with impunity.
By now the UK should have transited to a domestic product like Taranis AEW or Tekever.
The massively expensive GA platforms do not offer attritability or good bang for buck
Why would the Tekever offerings be any more survivable? Lower performance, lower altitude, and less capable electronics.
An AEW system will never be cheap, surely its better to make best use of it with a more capable host platform? Yes, AEW might be more vulnerable than it used to be, but better not to fight with one hand behind your back.
An AWAC’s circles above the carrier in the carrier groups missiles shield, its pretty different mission profile to conducting Hellfire strikes on Yemeni positions from about 8-10 miles away.
Not necessarily directly above the carrier, to avoid giving the position away.
Probably within the 150km Aster range, though.
Agreed but MQ9 is yesterdays news we need a force mix of High end TARANIS type and attritable lower cost/capability platforms we also need sovereign solutions
But there’s the age old problem with uk defence. By the time all the delays are factored in and all the problems ironed out the fooking carriers will be approaching their retirement dates.
Another issue always overlooked.
Negate the Satellites, goodbye Carrier AEW ASCS.
The country hasn’t got a pot to piss in 😂😂😂 Why are they even bothering????
Even if the carrier had a full compliment of aircraft, support vessels etc what does it actually add??? A few dozen jdams on goat herders heads, but only when the US&A says it’s ok to do so. Pathetic.