US Firm General Atomics Secures Deal to Supply Belgium with Four Advanced MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones
As per a contract made public by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on August 14, 2020, the American corporation General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., based in Poway, California, has been granted a not-to-exceed $188,866,819 undefined contract action for the procurement of Belgium’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
This agreement encompasses the provision of four MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, two Certifiable Ground Control Stations, as well as spare parts and auxiliary equipment. Operations will take place in Poway, California, with an anticipated completion date of March 31, 2024. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Belgium and stems from a sole-source procurement.
In March 2019, the U.S. State Department reached a conclusion approving a potential Foreign Military Sale to Belgium of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) along with associated equipment, with an estimated financial requirement of $600 million.
The Government of Belgium has expressed a desire to acquire four (4) MQ-9B RPAs; two (2) Fixed Certifiable Ground Control Stations; five (5) AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (four installed, one spare); fifteen (15) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) (twelve installed, three spares); five (5) AN/APY-8 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radars (four installed, one spare); and five (5) Detect and Avoid Systems (four installed, one spare). Additional items include an Initial Spares Package (ISP) and Readiness Spares Package (RSP) to support a five-year operational period; spare and repair components; support and testing equipment; manuals and technical documentation; personnel training and training tools; engineering support from U.S. Government and contractors; technical and logistical support services; along with other associated logistical and program assistance elements.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian represents the latest evolution of the MQ-9 series RPAS currently utilized by the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, and soon Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The MQ-9B introduces several vital upgrades to the established MQ-9 series, enhancing performance, reducing operational and maintenance costs, and enabling access to all types of airspace.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian satisfies NATO STANAG 4671 airworthiness standards, boasting lightning protection, various composite materials, and advanced sense and avoid technology; performance modifications feature a 24 m wingspan with winglets and sufficient fuel for a 40-hour endurance at 15,000 m. Highlights include a High Definition EO/IR Full Motion Video sensor, De/Anti-Icing System, TCAS, and Automatic Take-Off & Landing capabilities. Additionally, the system incorporates a thoroughly overhauled and modernized integrated ground control station with four crew positions.
