MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: status and timeline

MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian

Give air forces, navies and coast guards a long-endurance surveillance and strike drone that is certified to fly over populated areas and in shared airspace, not just in war zones.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

Flown by the UK, Belgium and Japan Coast Guard; Taiwan got its first in 2026; orders keep growing.

Updated 17 Aug 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · First deliveries to Germany

India contracts for 31 MQ-9Bs15 Oct 2024Complete.
UK Military Type Certificate for Protector RG Mk129 Apr 2025Complete.
Germany orders eight SeaGuardians via NSPA12 Jan 2026Complete.
First Taiwan aircraft delivered, under testJun 2026Complete.
RAF Protector qualified to drop Paveway IV and fire Brimstone 318 Jun 2026Complete.
JSM missile requirements and preliminary design reviews done30 Jun 2026Complete.
First deliveries to GermanyTarget 2028Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2028First deliveries to Germany (next)

Current obstacles

Vulnerable in defended airspaceA slow, large drone is easy to shoot down where enemies have modern air defences, which pushes it toward patrol and stand-off roles.
Long waits for new buyersGermany's first aircraft arrive in 2028 and India's purchased fleet in 2029, so customers lease aircraft in the meantime.
Each new weapon needs integrationAdding missiles like JSM takes design reviews and test campaigns before customers can use them.

Physics limits

Endurance trades against speedLong wings and a small engine sip fuel at slow speeds; flying faster raises drag sharply, so a long-loiter drone can never also be a fast responder.
Satellite links add delay and need bandwidthSignals to geostationary satellites travel about 72,000 km round trip, adding roughly a quarter second of lag, and video bandwidth is limited and can be jammed.
Radar and heat signaturesA large airframe with straight wings and a hot engine reflects radar and glows in infrared; making it stealthy would cost the efficiency that gives it endurance.

How it works

4 parts

Airframe

Long wings, one turboprop

A 24 m wing and a single turboprop let it cruise slowly and efficiently for more than a day and a half, watching one area for hours.

Control

Flown by satellite

Ground crews fly it over a satellite link, far beyond radio range, with near pole-to-pole coverage and de-icing for cold weather.

Airspace

Certified like a crewed aircraft

Built to NATO's airworthiness rules and fitted with detect-and-avoid, it can share airspace with airliners and fly over cities.

Payloads

Sensors or weapons

Nine hardpoints carry radars, cameras and sonobuoys, or weapons: Paveway IV and Brimstone 3 are qualified; Spear and JSM are being added.

Spec sheet

Spec	MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian
Endurance	40+ h^R (reported)
Wingspan	24 m (79 ft)^R (reported)
External payload	2,155 kg (4,750 lb)^R (reported)
Hardpoints	9 (8 wing, 1 centreline)^R (reported)
Altitude	40,000+ ft^R (reported)
Airworthiness standard	NATO STANAG 4671^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Military drones & autonomy peers

Spec	MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian	Tekever AR3
Endurance	40+ h^R (reported)	16 hours^R (reported)
Wingspan	24 m (79 ft)^R (reported)	3.5 m^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

5 updates

About General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

The team behind MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Unmanned aircraft, drones, CCA

GA-ASI designs and manufactures remotely piloted aircraft systems, electro-optic systems, and mission equipment for military customers. Leading builder of Predator and Reaper drones; now producing FQ-42 Vengeance collaborative combat aircraft for U.S. Air Force.

Delivered thousands of Predator and Reaper drones over two decades. Employs 6,200+ at Poway, California.
U.S. Air Force awarded production contract June 2026 for FQ-42A Vengeance CCA. Prototype first flew August 2025.
GA-ASI ramping production to 6 aircraft per month; self-funding while awaiting Congressional appropriations.

ga-asi.com (opens ga-asi.com)Company profile →

Founded: 199333 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Privateof General Atomics
Valuation: private
Works in: AviationMilitary drones & autonomy
Coverage: 2 programs · 9 updateslatest 23d agochecked 10 Oct
Customers: U.S. Air Force (opens af.mil)
People: David AlexanderPresident of GA-ASI

Spec

MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian

Endurance

40+ h^R (reported)

Wingspan

24 m (79 ft)^R (reported)

External payload

2,155 kg (4,750 lb)^R (reported)

Hardpoints

9 (8 wing, 1 centreline)^R (reported)

Altitude

40,000+ ft^R (reported)

Airworthiness standard

NATO STANAG 4671^R (reported)

Spec

MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian

Tekever AR3

Endurance

40+ h^R (reported)

16 hours^R (reported)

Wingspan

24 m (79 ft)^R (reported)

3.5 m^R (reported)

MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Long wings, one turboprop

Flown by satellite

Certified like a crewed aircraft

Sensors or weapons

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Mon 17 Aug

Tue 21 Jul

Mon 22 Jun

Mon 12 Jan

Tue 29 Apr 2025

About General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Long wings, one turboprop

Flown by satellite

Certified like a crewed aircraft

Sensors or weapons

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Mon 17 Aug

Tue 21 Jul

Mon 22 Jun

Mon 12 Jan

Tue 29 Apr 2025

About General Atomics Aeronautical Systems