MQ-9B drones for the UAE
UAE ← 
United StatesDeal progress
Current status: Sale approved — latest milestone in 2020. Not every deal goes through every stage; a government sale approval, for example, applies only in some supplier countries.
Deal details
The deal covers MQ-9B drones for the UAE, supplied by the United States; General Atomics is listed as the manufacturer. It is classed under drones. The announced quantity is up to 18 systems, and the value is put at $2.97 billion.
The supplier government approved the sale in 2020. Approval is not a signed contract, and the quantity and value may change once one is concluded.
Details: Part of the same November 2020 package; stalled along with the F-35 talks.
What is the MQ-9B drone?
The MQ-9B is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI). It comes in two versions: SkyGuardian for reconnaissance and strike over land, and SeaGuardian, equipped for maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. It was designed to be certifiable to the NATO airworthiness standard STANAG 4671, which allows it to fly in busy civil airspace, unlike the previous-generation MQ-9A Reaper.
The UK has adopted it as the Protector RG1, and it has also been ordered by Belgium, Canada, Taiwan and India, while the Japan Coast Guard flies the SeaGuardian on maritime surveillance patrols. The aircraft is flown from a ground control station and can be controlled via satellite at great distances from its take-off base, which suits it to watching long coastlines and exclusive economic zones.
Capabilities and armament
The drone is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop. SkyGuardian can stay aloft for more than 40 hours, while the company quotes more than 30 hours for the maritime version depending on the payload fitted. It has a 24 m wingspan and nine hardpoints under the wings and fuselage that together take 2155 kg of external stores, plus about 360 kg inside the fuselage. These hardpoints carry sensor pods or guided munitions.
On the maritime version the work is done by a dedicated sensor suite: a 360-degree surface search radar, a Lynx multi-mode radar, an AIS receiver to identify ships, an electronic support system to pick up emissions, and a high-definition electro-optical and thermal camera. An anti-submarine warfare kit can be added when needed to search for targets below the surface. The aircraft has a detect-and-avoid system compatible with TCAS and ADS-B, and a de-icing system that allows it to operate in all weather.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance, surveillance and precision strike; maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (SeaGuardian) |
| Engine | Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop |
| Wingspan | 24 m |
| Length | 11.7 m |
| Maximum take-off weight | 5670 kg |
| Endurance | More than 40 hours (SkyGuardian) |
| Maximum speed | 389 km/h (210 knots) |
| Maximum altitude | More than 12,190 m (40,000 ft) |
