The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) has ordered three MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) announced on 16 December 2024.
The sale to Poland will also include two Certifiable Ground Control Stations (CGCS) and three years of GA-ASI support services.
The MQ-9B has an endurance in excess of 40 hours, can take off and land automatically under satellite communications-only control, and will be able to operate in unsegregated airspace using a GA-ASI-developed ‘detect-and-avoid’ system.
Prior to its MQ-9B order, Poland had since 2022 been operating MQ-9A Reaper UAVs leased from GA-ASI, which ultimately led to the decision to procure MQ-9Bs.
“The purchase of MQ-9B SkyGuardian will deliver persistent multi-domain situational awareness, which is vital to Poland,” GA-ASI President David R Alexander was quoted as saying in a company press release. “SkyGuardian is a critical security tool and GA-ASI is proud to continue to build on its strong partnership with Poland.”
The first customer deliveries of the MQ-9B began in 2022, with deliveries to the UK Royal Air Force. Contracts have also been signed with Belgium, Canada, the Japan Coast Guard, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan, India and the US Air Force in support of Special Operations Command.
The MQ-9B additionally supported various US Navy exercises in 2024, including ‘Northern Edge’, Integrated Battle Problem’ and ‘Group Sail’.
