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United States General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
MQ-9B SkyGuardian
An export-focused, certifiable derivative of the MQ-9 Reaper built to fly in civil airspace under NATO airworthiness standards, with a maritime variant called SeaGuardian. Operated by the UK (Protector RG1), Belgium, Japan, Australia and India among others.
In service since 2016 · 6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
390
km/h
6,000
km range
12,200
m ceiling
2,155
kg payload
💲 ≈ $25,000,000, Publicly cited export unit cost estimate
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 6 operators
In service since 2016. Status: active · ~60 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$63M – $88M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~20 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the MQ-9B SkyGuardian can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 390 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 313 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 6,000 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 12,200 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 40 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 9 |
|---|---|
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 2,155 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 11.7 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 24 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 2,223 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 5,670 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboprop, pusher propeller |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Raytheon MTS-B multi-spectral targeting system, Lynx synthetic aperture radar |
|---|---|
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | LOS datalink, SATCOM, Detect-and-avoid radar for civil airspace |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $25,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 60 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
Specifications compiled from public General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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MQ-9B SkyGuardian vs
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Lancet-3 Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian has a maximum speed of 390 km/h.
What is the range of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian has a maximum range of 6,000 km.
What is the weapons payload of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian can carry up to 2,155 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian weigh? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian has a combat weight of 5,670 kg.
How many crew does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian require? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian use? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian is powered by the Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop.
What is the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian used for? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support, anti armor.
How many countries operate the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian cost? +
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian has an approximate unit cost of 25,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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