MQ-9B SkyGuardian

The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) of the United States as a derivative of the MQ-9A Reaper. Developed under the name Certifiable Predator B, it was designed to meet NATO STANAG 4671 airworthiness requirements so that it could be certified for flight in civil airspace, and it forms the basis of the maritime SeaGuardian and the Royal Air Force Protector RG Mk 1.

Development

International demand for a MALE RPAS able to operate within controlled civil airspace drove GA-ASI to develop the type, chiefly to secure European sales. Compliance with STANAG 4671 required lightning protection, revised composite materials and sense-and-avoid equipment. In April 2016 the United Kingdom announced its intention to order the aircraft under the Protector programme, with the requirement later fixed at 16 systems. On 15 July 2018 a company-owned MQ-9B flew from the United States to RAF Fairford, the first transatlantic flight by a MALE UAV, and was displayed at the Royal International Air Tattoo in No. 31 Squadron markings.

Design

The MQ-9B differs from the MQ-9A in having a 79 ft (24 m) wing fitted with winglets, giving endurance of over 40 hours, plus a de/anti-icing system, TCAS and automatic take-off and landing. Length is 38 ft 5 in (11.7 m), maximum take-off weight 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) and payload 5,550 lb (2,520 kg), of which 800 lb is internal. Power is a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop of 900 hp with Digital Electronic Engine Control. Core sensors are the AN/DAS-1 MTS-B multi-spectral targeting system and AN/APY-8 Lynx II radar, with optional kits for 360° maritime surface search radar, AIS, anti-submarine warfare, SIGINT, Link-16 and airborne early warning. The ground control station was redesigned with four crew stations. The aircraft can carry up to four Sparrowhawk small UAS.

Armament

The aircraft has nine hardpoints, one centreline and eight on the wings. Loads include up to ten Brimstone missiles or 500 lb Paveway IV laser-guided bombs. The Canadian order covers 219 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and 12 Mk 82 500 lb bombs; the Indian package includes 170 Hellfires and 310 GBU-39 glide bombs, with later integration of the NASM-SR anti-ship missile.

Operational History

The Indian Navy began operating two leased MQ-9B SeaGuardians from INS Rajali in November 2020; by August 2022 they had logged close to 3,000 hours, and one was lost in the Bay of Bengal on 18 September 2024 following a power failure. Japan Coast Guard SeaGuardians have been in operational use since October 2022. The first RAF Protector was delivered on 30 September 2023, with No. 31 Squadron reforming at RAF Waddington that October; two were reported at RAF Akrotiri in October 2025. Belgium received its first system in summer 2025 and Taiwan took two of four aircraft in March 2026. Other customers include Canada (11), Denmark (4), Poland (3) and India (31). Australia cancelled a planned 12-aircraft purchase in March 2022.

Variants

• SkyGuardian: Baseline overland configuration certifiable to STANAG 4671.
• SeaGuardian: Maritime variant with Leonardo Seaspray 7500E V2 AESA radar in a centreline pod and a podded sonobuoy dispenser ASW package of up to four pods.
• Protector RG Mk 1: RAF version armed with Brimstone 3 and Paveway IV, 16 ordered.
• MQ-9B STOL: Kit replacing wings, tail and propeller with Mojave-derived items for austere and shipboard operation.
• MQ-9B AEW: Airborne early warning configuration offered for export.