General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) delivered the first of four MQ-9B SkyGuardians® to Belgian Defence in August at Florennes Air Base, where the aircraft made its maiden flight in Belgium on September 23.
The first flight in Belgium follows a busy year of preparation for the aircraft. The RPA completed Acceptance Test Procedures in July at GA-ASI’s test facilities in Southern California, which included the actual first flight of the aircraft in February. In parallel, 18 Belgian Air Force personnel completed initial MQ-9B training that took place at GA-ASI’s Flight Test & Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and live flight training at its Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California.
Linden Blue, GA-ASI CEO, commented, “This event ushers in a new era of information dominance for Belgium. MQ-9B is the world’s premiere remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) system, delivering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in a high-endurance unmanned platform.”
Major General Geert De Decker, Air Chief, stated, “With the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, Belgium enters a new era of ISR capability. This achievement reflects not only technological progress, but also the strength of our collaboration with General Atomics—built on mutual understanding, trust, and a shared commitment to operational excellence.”
Belgium joins the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) as the first European countries to take delivery of MQ-9B. MQ-9B recently became the first large RPA to obtain a Military Type Certificate (MTC), which was granted by the U.K.’s Military Aviation Authority earlier this year for Protector (the RAF MQ-9B model). MTC certifies MQ-9B’s safe operation in civil airspace without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas.
Countries in Europe and throughout the world are choosing MQ-9B for its multi-domain versatility and exceptionally long range and endurance. The platform provides pole-to-pole satellite control and de-icing capabilities to enable missions in the harsh conditions of the Arctic.
Other countries that have selected MQ-9B include Canada, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command. MQ-9B has also been featured in various U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail.
