Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) have announced the procurement of eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI), the company announced on 12 January 2026.
The programme includes four Certifiable Ground Control Stations, with the first delivery expected in 2028.
The acquisition negotiation was executed on behalf of Germany by the NSPA, which has developed a contractual framework through the MQ-9 Support Partnership (MIC SP) for supporting co-operation among its member nations and enabling the procurement of the MQ-9B, including both the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian UAVs, for NATO allies and partners.
Germany thus joins Belgium, Canada, Denmark, India, Japan, Poland, Taiwan and the UK (with its Protector RG Mk1 variant) as international clients that have selected GA-ASI’s MQ-9B. The platform has also been procured by the US Air Force in support of US Special Operations Command and has featured in various US Navy exercises.
GA-ASI noted the MQ-9B’s exceptionally long range and endurance in a press release announcing the German procurement. The SeaGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for over 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain, day or night. The platform provides pole-to-pole satellite control and de-icing capabilities to enable missions in cold climates.
The SeaGuardian features two multi-mode surface-search radars that deliver wide-area maritime surveillance, with an option to add an anti-submarine warfare capability. Additionally, the MQ-9B’s in-house-developed Detect and Avoid System aids its ability to fly in unsegregated airspace for domestic civilian operations, making it highly versatile for operations from Germany.
“We’re thrilled that Germany has joined the list of NATO countries that have selected MQ-9B SeaGuardian,” GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue stated in a company press release. “The proliferation of MQ-9B in Europe delivers commonality between NATO countries and for Germany it will provide opportunities for interoperability with their fleet of P-8As.”
NSPA General Manager Stacy A Cummings added, “This Support Partnership demonstrates how NSPA enables efficient, effective and responsive multinational acquisitions for advanced, interoperable capabilities. We are proud to support Germany in this strategic investment for maritime surveillance and security.”
