MQ-9 PREDATOR UAS DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY COMBAT SYSTEM

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Air and Marine (OAM) MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is a strategic asset for homeland security operated at and beyond the nation’s borders to overcome threats moving towards the United States. To support future mission requirements, OAM developed a maritime variant of its Predator B UAS, called the Guardian, with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to increase reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, and acquisition capabilities in maritime operating environments.

The Guardian was modified from a standard Predator B with structural, avionics, and communications
enhancements, as well as the addition of a Raytheon SeaVue Marine Search Radar and an Electro optical/Infrared Sensor that is optimized for maritime operations.

In the southeast coastal border region and drug source and transit zones, OAM plans to use the Guardian to conduct long-range surveillance in support of joint counter-narcotics operations, where maritime radar is necessary to detect a variety of threats. In the future, at the northern border, the Guardian will allow OAM to conduct surveillance of the Great Lakes, creating a more comprehensive picture of activity in the maritime environment, and give law enforcement a more accurate tool to use in sorting illegal from legitimate activity.

MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS) CBP UAS Operations

• In addition to the Guardian, OAM operates five General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator B UAS:
– Three Predator B aircraft are assigned to the Southwest Border, operating from the U.S. Army’s Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
– Two Predator B aircraft are assigned to the Northern Border with operations based from Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.

• The remotely piloted Predator B allows OAM to safely conduct missions in areas that are difficult to access or otherwise considered too high-risk for manned aircraft or CBP personnel on the ground. This risk-reducing capability, unique to a UAS, is increasingly critical to personnel safety and mission success.

• In addition to its border security mission, OAM leverages the Predator B UAS as a force multiplier during National Special Security Events and emergency and disaster response efforts.

MQ-9 Predator B

MQ-9 Predator B In March 2008, OAM and the USCG successfully conducted a demonstration of a maritime variant of the Predator B from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The demonstration paved the way for the development of a concept of operations and an operational requirements document for a maritime Predator.

MQ-9 Predator B On November 6, 2008, OAM and the USCG formed a UAS Joint Program Office to identify and address common maritime UAS requirements, including sensors, command and control, data exploitation, logistics and
training, and basing.