GA-ASI released a low-resolution image of the maiden flight of the first SkyGuardian unmanned aircraft for Belgium, which took place on 20 February. (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc)
The first MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for Belgium has made its maiden flight, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) announced on 25 March.
The event happened at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California, on 20 February.
“First flight is part of a series of ground and flight tests conducted to validate the performance of the Belgian MQ-9B RPA [remotely piloted aircraft]. The objective of the flight was to prove controllability and safe landing of the aircraft. The flight was successful, and the programme will move forward with further development flight tests,” GA-ASI said.
The first flight milestone came four and a half years after GA-ASI was awarded USD188.9 million related to the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) production and delivery of four SkyGuardian UAVs and two certifiable ground control stations (CGCS) to Belgium in August 2020.
Belgium plans to use the SkyGuardian for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) in support of national, NATO, United Nations-mandated, and other coalition operations. “The current fleet of Belgian Air Component aircraft have proven insufficient to support sustained and persistent ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] operations,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said of the original approval for the sale. The country has not requested weapons as part of its buy.
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