Utilizing the Detect and Keep away from System, the MQ-9B operated in U.S. airspace like every other piloted plane, with out the necessity for the particular dealing with often required for UAS.
The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Middle Plane Division (NAWCAD) introduced on Sep. 17, 2025, the flight of a MQ-9B SeaGuardian from California to Washington, throughout which the drone “operated in U.S. airspace like a piloted plane for the primary time utilizing its superior onboard detect and keep away from system.”
NAWCAD didn’t establish the system used or point out when the flight befell. It had nonetheless beforehand revealed work on the Guardian ground-based software program that makes use of present floor sensors to alert the RPA’s floor operator about proximity with different manned or unmanned plane.
Previous to that, in a Sep. 4, press launch, GA-ASI mentioned it had deployed an ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare)-configured MQ-9B SeaGuardian from Palmdale to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Washington to assist the Open Home deliberate there on Aug. 23, suggesting that it was when the check befell. Each NAWCAD and GA-ASI additionally used the identical picture of their bulletins.
GA-ASI mentioned: “Using its superior onboard Detect and Keep away from System, the MQ-9B was in a position to launch from its flight facility close to Palmdale, California, and fly to Whidbey Island with out the traditional particular dealing with required for UAS. Successfully, it was in a position to function within the nationwide airspace like every other piloted plane.”
Was the Guardian software program used?
NAWCAD mentioned the Guardian software program permits unmanned plane “to function extra freely and safely” in manned civilian, and eliminates “older strategies that required closing off airspace or utilizing chase planes.”
It isn’t clear whether or not this implies the MQ-9B was operated by the Guardian software program or its by-product in its human-in-the-loop distant operation. Nevertheless, the point out of closing off airspace implies that the plane flew with out the devoted flight hall often mandated by the FAA, though it’s unclear if the usshared the route with different piloted plane.
On the request of NASWI management, GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian® was on show in an anti-submarine warfare configuration, giving public and army attendees an up-close take a look at the biggest and most succesful multi-mission Group 5 #UAS.
Learn the information: pic.twitter.com/j1PWuxJPPt
— Basic Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) September 4, 2025
GA-ASI then additionally talked about its persevering with partnership with NAWCAD’s AIRWorks division, for a number of ASW, ISR and Focusing on demonstrations. “NAWCAD AIRWorks can be the Lead Methods Integrator and Program Supervisor for the Navy Operational Analysis of MQ-9B in 2026,” GA-ASI added.
Each NAWCAD’s publish on Fb and GA-ASI’s launch explicitly described the detection and avoidance know-how on the MQ-9B as “onboard,” whereas the Guardian has clearly been described as a ground-based system. Nevertheless, the reason might be that Guardian is the bottom extension of the onboard Detect and Keep away from System.
In truth, NAWCAD explains that Guardian detects close by plane and alerts the operators, and makes use of a number of authorised sensors to trace plane in actual time. The Guardian software program might accumulate the information from the Detect and Keep away from System’s sensors after which relay them to the bottom station.
Origins
Guardian was developed following an FAA requirement mandating safer proximity flight operations of unmanned plane alongside each civilian and army manned plane. In 2023, NAWCAD was additionally concentrating on to undertake it on the MQ-8 Fireplace Scout, MQ-4C Triton, and future Small Tactical UASs.
Cleared by NAVAIR, the software program is now awaiting FAA approval. NAWCAD additionally talked about the Guardian getting used on the MQ-9s at NAS Pax River, MQ-25 Stingray, the RQ-23 Tigershark, and the Reapers at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Cherry Level. The MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial refueler is anticipated to fly off the U.S. Navy carriers by late 2025 or 2026.
Guardian ground-based collision avoidance software program
In an Aug. 8, 2022, press launch concerning the first check of the Guardian by the Unmanned Air Take a look at and Analysis Squadron 24 (UX 24), the place it flew two RQ-21 Blackjack drones, NAWCAD mentioned the system makes “manned/unmanned teaming safer.”
Guardian “improves airspace security” by monitoring “manned and unmanned techniques […] inside a 200 nautical mile radius […] utilizing ground-based sensors to speak with air automobile operators in floor management stations,” NAWCAD mentioned. It offers “visible cues for navigation and visitors avoidance maneuvers like flip, ascend, or descend in cases the place collisions are imminent – all on a pc display screen, just like GPS in a automobile.”
An algorithm shows it in a “visitors mild” – purple, yellow, inexperienced codes – on the bottom station console. This enables the unmanned system to “navigate freely in a managed airspace” just like the NAS Pax River facility, a February 2023 video characteristic by NAWCAD mentioned. The objective is for the unmanned techniques to “fly identical to common plane,” and “combine the UAV into the visitors sample” at NAS Pax River, and presumably different airspaces “extra effectively,” the background narration added.
FAA restrictions made scheduling of flight operations “more and more troublesome,” simply as “unmanned aviation grew to become a bigger a part of the Navy’s portfolio,” the August 2022 NAWCAD press launch talked about. Solely a single unmanned automobile might function over NAWCAD’s airspace, the Atlantic Take a look at Ranges, at any given time. This difficult flight testing for Pax River’s six squadrons testing each plane for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Sensors and collision avoidance
Within the August 2022 press launch concerning the Jul. 28 assessments of the 2 RQ-21 Blackjacks, NAWCAD mentioned: “Guardian alerted its operator of an imminent collision as soon as the 2 techniques got here inside 400 toes of one another and made avoidance maneuver solutions.”
A desk on the backside listed the “Trusted Sensors” DSR11, VCAP, GIBBS and the ADS-B because the “Supplemental Sensors,” displaying they have been ‘activated’. We not too long ago reported about an Apr. 8, 2025, shut name between a KC-135R Stratotanker from the one hundredth Air Refuelling Wing based mostly at RAF Mildenhall and a Jonker JS-1 glider, due to the latter’s ADS-B being turned off. The UK additionally not too long ago licensed the Protector RG1 unmanned plane to soundly fly it in non-segregated airspace.
“Trying forward, we’ll put Guardian by means of advanced assessments to substantiate it is going to reliably deal with congestion within the busiest airspaces as we work towards FAA certification which might considerably cut back Stingray’s developmental check time and prices,” Dulude mentioned within the August 2022 press launch. This means a reference to the newest check with the MQ-9B SeaGuardian.
Manned-Unmanned Teaming
The truth that GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian was used for a scaled up, advanced check of the Guardian, means the system might be trialled onto the MQ-20 Avenger and/or the XQ-67A OBSS. The corporate beforehand mentioned drones validate sensing and autonomous flight know-how for the Air Pressure’s Collaborative Fight Plane program, represented by YFQ-42A.
We’re not simply speaking about innovation — we’re delivering it. YFQ-42A collaborative fight plane represents a long time of expertise and innovation in jet-powered #UCAV know-how. And it’s prepared at present.
Learn extra: #YFQ42A pic.twitter.com/Ehi3ZMUmjA
— Basic Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) September 5, 2025
Melon mentioned within the August 2022 NAWCAD press launch that the Guardian would allow protected manned/unmanned teaming. “We’re beginning at DOD check ranges, however each squadron or ship might combine this method seamlessly for a safer air wing at sea or ashore,” he mentioned.
“Our single precedence is getting the Guardian prepared for the way forward for Naval and Marine Corps unmanned aviation,” defined Melon. “We’re coaching our check pilots and fine-tuning the tech throughout this demo to arrange for the brand new service based mostly unmanned air system, MQ-25’s, arrival at Pax however Stingray is just the start.”
The Struggle Zone additionally reported on Apr. 30, 2025, about U.S. Marine Corps officers saying on the Trendy Day Marine exposition how “guaranteeing future Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) drones can fly in shut proximity to pleasant crewed plane with out colliding with one another stays a significant problem.”
