The increasing international demand for MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is reflected in the Asia Pacific region as well. The company is confident that the multi-mission Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) RPA, which is already being used by two countries in the region, will find more takers.
India Shows the Way
China’s growing military might and its assertiveness in the region are acting as a catalyst for the purchase of the MQ-9B by its neighbours. In October 2024, India signed a major US$3.5 billion deal with the United States to acquire 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian drones. The tri-service procurement includes 15 SeaGuardians, the naval variant of the MQ-9B, for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians - eight each for the Army and Air Force. According to reports, deliveries of the MQ-9B RPA are expected to begin in January 2029 and be completed by October 2030.
In 2020, India acquired two SeaGuardians on lease to enhance its long-range maritime surveillance capability across the Indian Ocean Region. In December last year, the Navy’s request to acquire two more drones of the type on lease was accepted by the defence ministry.
SeaGuardian in Japan
MQ-9B SeaGuardian is integral to Japan’s maritime strategy as well, with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) using the RPA for long-endurance ISR, maritime surveillance, and patrol operations. The JCG began operating leased SeaGuardians in October 2022. In May 2023, the service added two more SeaGuardians and followed that up in August 2024 with an order for two more RPA of the type. The plan is to increase the SeaGuardian fleet to nine by 2028.
In February 2023, GA-ASI announced that the JMSDF had selected MQ-9B SeaGuardian for its MALE RPAS Trial Operation Project. Following the trial period that began in April that year, the service announced plans to acquire 23 SeaGuardians to not only enhance maritime surveillance but also to evaluate the use of UAVs for missions currently performed by manned aircraft. The acquisition is likely to be completed by 2032.
Taiwan Waits
Taiwan is set to acquire the MQ-9B as well. In March 2024, the U.S. Air Force announced that the country would receive four SkyGuardian drones, with the first two arriving in the third quarter of 2026 and the remaining two in 2027. Two certifiable ground control stations, spares, and support equipment would also be provided.
Multi-Mission RPA
SeaGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for over 30 hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain, day or night. The maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft integrates a centerline wide-area maritime radar, an automatic identification system, electronic support measures, and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission kit.
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Leveraging MQ-9B’s open architecture system, SeaGuardian operators have the option to integrate the company’s sonobuoy management and control system (SMCS) and sonobuoy dispenser system (SDS). Together, the systems allow SeaGuardian operators to deploy, monitor and control sonobuoys from a single RPAS. The aircraft has four wing stations available to carry up to 4 SDS pods, enabling it to hold and dispense up to 40 ‘A’ size or 80 ‘G’ size sonobuoys and remotely perform ASW.
Multiple Customers
The United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Poland, and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command have also ordered the MQ-9B. In January this year, Germany announced the procurement of eight SeaGuardians and four Certifiable Ground Control Stations through NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). First delivery is expected in 2028.
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