General Atomics Partners with UAE to Integrate Smart Weapons onto MQ-9B Reaper

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems partners with UAE’s advanced technology defense group EDGE to integrate EDGE smart weapons onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian® RPA.

Under the agreement announced at the Dubai Airshow, the two companies will work together to integrate precision-guided munition (PGM) and guided-glide weapon (GGW) solutions from EDGE onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

“We’re excited to work with EDGE on this initiative,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Integrating home-grown capabilities onto our customer platforms is something we’ve done a lot, but we’ve never before integrated a non-NATO weapon system onto one of our RPA platforms.”

According to a joint statement by both companies, the partnership marks the first time that UAE-made smart weapons will be integrated into a U.S. unmanned platform, signaling a new chapter in U.S.-UAE defense cooperation, and opening the door to further collaboration.

“We are proud to be working with General Atomics Aeronautical. The opportunity to integrate our smart weapons on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian will offer the end user multiple dynamic, highly accurate, and cost-effective ground strike solutions,” said Hamad Al Marar, President of EDGE Group’s Missiles & Weapons cluster.

The EDGE smart weapons designated for integration include the DESERT STING family of GGWs and THUNDER family of cost-effective PGMs from HALCON, and the AL TARIQ family of modular, mission-proven, all-weather day/night long-range PGMs.

The UAE Armed Forces currently operate GA-ASI’s Predator XP and are working with GA-ASI and the U.S. Department of Defense to acquire the MQ-9B.