The ever-changing nature of threats against the United States and allied special operations forces drives a need for technological change in special operations force tools and equipment. The MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial system, a sophisticated UAS designed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is no different. To harden the platform against cyber threats and anti-air weapons, GA-ASI has procured assistance from the cyber startup Shift5.
This teaming agreement will look to incorporate Shift5 onboard cyber anomaly detection and predictive maintenance onto the MQ-9A Reaper, in support of United States Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command. David Alexander, president of GA-ASI, pointed out that the teaming agreement enables AFSOC and SOCOM to resiliency and survivability on the battlefield.
The modern battlefield is replete not only with traditional missile and artillery-based threats but also with sophisticated ones issued from cyberspace. Such a strike could just put a Reaper out of commission or cripple its ISR capabilities. Shift5’s platform addresses very similar concerns through critical operational and cybersecurity insights, enabling operators to make fast and informed decisions. These will be able to facilitate real-time data access with actionable analytics in both online and offline modes.
Josh Lospinoso, Shift5 CEO and co-founder, said, “On a future battlefield dominated by remotely piloted and autonomous systems, decision dominance depends on real-time data.” Their work with GA-ASI was, he said, one of the best paths available to AFSOC and SOCOM for obtaining crucial operational and cyber insights.
In addition to cyber defenses, GA-ASI is developing a new Airborne Battlespace Awareness and Defense (ABAD) pod for the MQ-9A Block 5-model Reapers. This pod will provide for the detection and protection against RF and IR threats not unlike that provided by a threat warning suite on traditional tactical aircraft. This allows the ABAD pod to sense anti-aircraft sensors and alert the remote crew to potential dangers defensively against both air and ground systems.
With the integration of these advanced capabilities, the MQ-9A Reaper continues to be a game-changing asset for modern military operations. Such enhancements protect the aircraft from next-generation threats while also extending its service life to continue playing a crucial role in a variety of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
The MQ-9A Reaper, evolving against the dynamic landscape of threats, underlines the imperative for innovation in military technology that is unending. This collaboration between GA-ASI and Shift5 exemplifies how advanced cyber and defense technologies could be integrated seamlessly into enhancing survivability and effectiveness in contested environments for unmanned aerial systems.