General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has integrated the Leonardo SAGE 750 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system onto the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The SAGE 750 integration was performed by GA-ASI in partnership with Leonardo.

The SAGE 750 installed on SeaGuardian will provide intelligence information on maritime and terrestrial radar emitters over a wide area.

“This will be the first time that our aircraft has featured a fully-integrated, tactical ESM capability. SAGE ESM will improve our customer’s ability to make tactical decisions and allow collection of ISR data on selected emitters,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. The system will help SeaGuardian operators locate and track surface radars.

“SAGE is a product of Leonardo’s decades of heritage in providing world-class electronic intelligence equipment. We’re proud that our SAGE ESM will be the off-the-shelf option for the SeaGuardian, providing a unique level of situational awareness to operators. We value our close partnership with GA-ASI and are pleased to be supporting the MQ-9B platform with our portfolio of advanced sensors,” said Mark Hamilton, SVP Electronic Warfare, Leonardo.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator^® RPA series and the Lynx^® Multi-mode Radar.

With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas.

Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top ten world players in Aerospace, Defense and Security and Italy’s main industrial company. Organized into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics), and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio.

Leonardo competes in the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security and Space). In 2018 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of €12.2 billion and invested €1.4 billion in Research and Development.