MQ-9s in Poland Now Have the New SIGINT Pod
The Polish Ministry of Defense just released new photos showing one of the MQ-9 drones of the 52nd Expeditionary Operations Group Detachment 2, the unit operating the MQ-9 Reaper in Europe, flying over Lask Air Base, Poland, with the new L3 SIGINT pod.
The Reaper with registration N428HK was featured in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Miroslawiec Air Base, Poland on March 1st, 2019.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and L3 Technologies, Inc. announced the development and successful flight test of a full-band Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) ISR capability for use on a Predator B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in June 2019.
Jointly funded by GA-ASI and L3, this new podded solution was developed in eight months and successfully flight tested in May 2019 on a GA-ASI MQ-9 operating from GA test facilities in Yuma, Arizona.
“We are excited to work with L3 Technologies to develop this capability for the MQ-9. Generating Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) is a key capability of strategic importance to the U.S. and its allies,” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI. “Integrating L3’s world-class SIGINT system further enhances the MQ-9’s utility in the ISR arena.”
Sources: Twitter; Press Release
