Ultra Intelligence & Communications (I&C) has secured a contract to deliver nine of its advanced Knox-5 processors for integration into the U.S. Marine Corps’ MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft. This deployment is a significant step in enhancing the unmanned platform’s capacity to process mission-critical intelligence directly at the tactical edge, where bandwidth is limited and decisions must be made rapidly.
The Knox-5 is the latest iteration of Ultra’s robust processor family, engineered specifically for the challenging environment of size, weight, and power (SWaP)-constrained unmanned platforms. By bringing high-performance, SOSA-aligned open architecture computing to the disconnected battlefield, the Knox system empowers operators to run sophisticated AI algorithms, manage vast streams of sensor data from electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras and radar systems, and dynamically adapt mission software without being trapped by vendor lock-in. This architectural philosophy is central to its design, providing military forces with the unprecedented flexibility to upgrade capabilities through software and modular hardware swaps as threats evolve, avoiding the traditional cycles of costly and time-consuming platform replacement or full-system recertification.
“Defense systems shouldn’t force operators into proprietary dead ends,” stated Mladen Brkic, President of Ultra I&C’s Mission Solutions. “Knox breaks that cycle. Platform operators can swap modules, update software, and integrate new capabilities as missions change—this is flexibility built for operational reality.”
The core advantage of the Knox processor lies in its ability to manage complex data flows across multi-domain missions—air, land, and maritime—enabling the execution of cloud-native applications even in highly contested and communications-denied environments. Its modular, open-standard design supports rapid capability updates, a process that can be accomplished in days rather than the years typical of legacy systems. This ensures that platforms like the MQ-9B can stay ahead of rapidly evolving mission requirements and adversarial tactics.
Beyond the immediate application on the Marine Corps’ MQ-9B, this contract represents a pivotal move toward high-rate production for Ultra I&C. The company is scaling its manufacturing infrastructure to meet accelerating demand from U.S. and allied forces for adaptable, secure, and powerful edge computing solutions. The Knox family is poised to become a foundational technology for next-generation unmanned and manned platforms, ensuring warfighters maintain a decisive information advantage at the tactical edge.
