Sea Guardian (MQ-9B)

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

ceiling13,700 m
payload2,177 kg
sensorsLynx SAR radar, MTS-B EO/IR, AIS, ESM
endurance40+ hours
manufacturerGeneral Atomics
configurationUnarmed — ISR only in German service

Operators

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