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A Pratt & Whitney turboprop engine has powered the remotely piloted aircraft as part of testing activities in the United States.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has confirmed it has tested a PT6 E-Series model turboprop engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada on its MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
The multiple full-power engine tests — performed at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, California — aimed to ensure the platform could deliver the performance characteristics required for the MQ-9B capability.
“We’ve enjoyed a long-term relationship with Pratt & Whitney,” GA-ASI president David R Alexander said.
“Integrating their PT6 E-Series engine onto our MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft offers an alternate option for future customers that includes a 33 per cent increase in power, dual channel electronic propeller and engine control system, as well as all the benefits of the PT6 engine family.”
Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, said the PT6 E-Series is well suited to the mission requirements of the SkyGuardian aircraft.
“Our PT6 E-Series is the ideal engine for this mission, and we look forward to working with General Atomics on this important program,” Albertelli said.
MQ-9B has reportedly demonstrated airborne endurance of more than 40 hours, automatic take-offs and landings under SATCOM-only control, and GA-ASI developed Detect and Avoid system capability.
Despite the touted capabilities, the Commonwealth government cancelled the AIR 7003 Phase 1 contract earlier this year — a $1.3 billion program to deliver a fleet of SkyGuardian aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force.
AIR 7003 Phase 1, which formed part of the Integrated Investment Program, aimed to deliver persistent airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and precision strike capability for the land and littoral environments.
The government had already spent approximately $10 million on the program, which secured approval for up to 12 aircraft from the US State Department in April last year.
Local industry was expected to provide a range of sensor, communication, manufacturing and life-cycle support capabilities to support the development of the unmanned aircraft.
The project was scrapped following advice from Defence officials, with government deciding to reallocate funds for Project REDSPICE (Resilience, Effects, Defence, Space, Intelligence, Cyber, and Enablers) — a $9.9 billion investment over the next decade in the Australian Signals Directorate.
[Related: Defence rejects criticism over SkyGuardian scrapping ]
