Seen flying over the UK during a 2021 demonstration, the SkyGuardian has now been acquired by Poland. (Crown Copyright)
Poland has signed for the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
The Polish Armaments Agencysigned for “several” systems on 12 December, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) said, adding that deliveries will be completed by the first quarter of 2027.
“The agreement is aimed at increasing the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces in the field of acquisition of reconnaissance data. The MQ-9B air systems will enable the acquisition of image reconnaissance data through the use of electro-optical systems and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), as well as in the field of signals reconnaissance,” the MND said, making no reference to arming the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Once in service, the MQ-9Bs will replace the GA-ASI MQ-9A Reaper UASs that Poland has leased (also in an unarmed configuration) since February 2023.
Known as SkyGuardian in its baseline overland configuration and as SeaGuardian in its maritime configuration, the MQ-9B is to shortly enter service with the UK as the Protector RG1, and has been ordered by Belgium, India, and Japan, with interest shown from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Australia cancelled its planned procurement of the system in 2022 for budgetary reasons.
As noted by GA-ASI, the SkyGuardian has a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 ft (compared with 50,000 ft for the Reaper), a maximum endurance of more than 40 hours (compared with 27 hours for the Reaper), and a maximum air speed of 200 kt (compared with 240 kt for the Reaper). The SkyGuardian also has nine external stores/stations, compared with five for the Reaper.
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