MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be the world's first JSM cruise missile drone with a range of over 480 km

MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles, which recently underwent cold testing, may receive

rockets. So far, drones are used for reconnaissance and surveillance.

What is known

MQ-9B SkyGuardian is one of the optionsdrone MQ-9 Reaper. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) introduced a new drone concept. It involves equipping the UAV with aviation cruise missiles.

Securing the Indo-Pacific requires aircraft that do more and go farther.

​Learn how #MQ9B goes the distance at #Avalon2023 booth 3M11. pic.twitter.com/NJOYnUbw9s

— GA-ASI (@GenAtomics_ASI) February 28, 2023

We are talking about the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).These are Norwegian-American missiles developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon. They are based on Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship missiles, which are designed to be launched from ships.

The JSM weighs 416 kg and has a range of 300 miles.(482 km) when flying at high altitude and 100 miles (160 km) when flying at low altitude. The missile is equipped with an inertial navigation system, GPS and an infrared homing head. All this had to be packed into a body less than 4 meters long in order for the missile to fit into the compartment of the F-35A Lightning II fighter.

MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be the first unmannedplatform in the world that can carry cruise missiles. The new drone concept was demonstrated in Australia at the Avalon Airshow 2023. The use of a drone with JSM will reduce the cost of strikes, since it will not have to involve fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters.