L3Harris will start deliveries this year
L3Harris is providing 11 innovative WESCAM MX™-20D EO/IR sensor systems to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for Canada’s fleet of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). The delivery of L3Harris’ systems to GA-ASI should start this year, while the first aircraft should be handed over to RCAF in 2028.
The WESCAM MX-series of multi-sensor, multi-spectral, electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) surveillance and targeting systems support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition missions from platforms across the air, land and maritime domains.
Equipped with L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-20D, the Canadian fleet of MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS will significantly improve its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across Canada’s vast and harsh territorial landscape and environments, including the Arctic.
“L3Harris has a longstanding relationship with General Atomics and welcomes new opportunities to integrate our world-class technologies on a leading remotely piloted aircraft,” said Kristin Houston, President of Electro-Optical, L3Harris. “Our EO/IR systems once again prove to be the ultimate solution for the world’s most advanced and capable platforms, including SkyGuardian. We welcome the opportunity to contribute to Canada’s national security.”
The delivery marks the beginning of a new solid partnership between L3Harris, GA-ASI and Canada to provide fully qualified RPAS with field-proven reliability and serviceability in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), UN, NATO and other allied countries’ operations. The partnership supports initiatives aligned with Canada’s ‘Strong, Secure, Engaged’ Defence policy, which calls for significant investments into RPAS with ISR capabilities.
“GA-ASI is pleased to continue our close relationship with L3Harris, a proven and trusted partner on Team SkyGuardian (TSG), to deliver Canada’s critical RPAS capability. We’re proud to equip the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® with a cost effective and fully compliant EO/IR solution capable of delivering significant technical capabilities to the users. This represents a major investment in Canadian industry providing valuable regional and industrial benefits that will maintain this L3Harris innovative Canadian EO/IR technology as a leader in the global RPAS market,” added GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
The integration of the WESCAM MX-20D on GA-ASI’s MQ-9B demonstrates L3Harris’ ability to meet mission-critical needs and contribute to Canada’s national defence strategy. It also reflects the strength of L3Harris’ support across the RCAF’s diverse set of fleets, including the CP-140 Aurora, CH-146 Griffon, CH-147F Chinook, CH-149 Cormorant, and CC-295 Kingfisher.
L3Harris continues to prove itself to be a premier manufacturer and provider of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging capabilities for the world’s most advanced airborne platforms.
