Sea Guardian (MQ-9B)
Type: uav
Domain: air
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
First Deployed: 2020
Overview
Maritime variant of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, providing the German Navy with persistent wide-area maritime surveillance and intelligence capability. Features a multi-mode maritime surface search radar, EO/IR sensor turret with automatic identification system (AIS) receiver, satellite communications for beyond-line-of-sight operations, and endurance exceeding 35 hours. Wingspan of 24 metres with a maximum altitude of 40,000 ft. Capable of carrying sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare support and potentially lightweight torpedoes. Germany leased the system to fill an urgent maritime ISR gap while long-term solutions are developed. Operates from shore bases covering the Baltic and North Sea approaches.
Technical Specifications
| ceiling | 13,700 m |
|---|---|
| payload | 2,177 kg |
| sensors | Lynx SAR radar, MTS-B EO/IR, AIS, ESM |
| endurance | 40+ hours |
| manufacturer | General Atomics |
| configuration | Unarmed — ISR only in German service |
Operators
- Germany
Related air Weapon Systems
- IAI Harpy - Anti-Radiation Loitering Munition (Israel)
- KC-46 Pegasus - Aerial Refueling Tanker (United States)
- EF-18M Hornet - Multirole Fighter (Spain)
- KUH-1 Surion - Medium Utility Helicopter (South Korea)
- CH-47F Chinook - helicopter (Germany)
- AH-64 Apache - Attack Helicopter (United States)
- AMX A-1M - strike (Brazil)
- APKWS - Air Defense Missile (United States)
- Kh-31P - Air-Launched Cruise Missile (Russia)
- A400M Atlas - Strategic/Tactical Transport Aircraft (Germany / France / Spain)