Image of GA-ASI’s MQ-9A uncrewed aircraft. Credit: © General Atomics.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has announced the commencement of a series of service-level training exercises (SLTE) 2-23 to support the US Marine Corps (USMC).

The effort involves the company’s MQ-9A uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), and the participation of joint forces and the US Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command (MAGTFTC).

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The latest iteration of SLTE is being held near Twentynine Palms, California. The participating units and forces are performing activities to prepare themselves to operate in a dynamic environment.

The use of GA-ASI’s MQ-9A supported the first-time integration of the USMC’s Group 5 uncrewed aircraft with the MAGTFTC for several drills.

MQ-9A and GA-ASI’s VMU-3 pilots and sensor operators began operating from GA-ASI’s facility at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, from 3 February for the exercise.

They also flew above the training ranges in the southwestern United States.

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The major role of MQ-9A is to deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data packages, providing situational awareness and simulated close air support to the USMC.

GA-ASI DoD Strategic Development vice-president Patrick Shortsleeve said: “We know that being able to utilise an actual MQ-9A is critical to the success of these exercises, and helps the USMC ramp up their training programme.”

Other exercises covered under the recent SLTE programme included a MAGTF warfighting exercise, a live-fire integrated training exercise, a marine littoral regiment training exercise and force-on-force training.

Specific activities undertaken by MAGTFTC for the SLTE programme included simulated and live-fire armed training.

This training primarily aimed to improve the readiness of the Fleet Marine Forces, while simultaneously contributing to support for the USMC’s national security responsibilities.

In 2022, GA-ASI secured a contract to deliver eight MQ-9A extended-range UAS to the USMC.