Germany has contracted General Atomics to supply eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft for the German Navy, expanding its maritime intelligence, surveillance, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Initial deliveries are planned for 2028, with the program funded at roughly 1.52 billion euros ($1.78 billion) through special defense funds and the national defense budget, according to Hartpunkt.
The agreement includes spare parts and pilot training for the first two years, while additional upgrades to enable full ASW functionality are scheduled for 2031 and 2032.
The SeaGuardian drones will be operated by Naval Air Wing 3 “Graf Zeppelin” at Nordholz, working alongside the navy’s Boeing P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft.
Germany placed an order for eight P-8As in 2021 and received its first aircraft in October, providing the fleet with high-speed, sensor-rich ASW capability.
Although the P-8A offers superior speed — up to 900 kilometers per hour — and a larger weapons payload, the MQ-9B delivers extended persistence, remaining on station for up to 30 hours.
The MQ-9B features a 20-meter wingspan, a 10-meter fuselage length, and a payload capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms, accommodating maritime surveillance sensors and sonobuoy deployment systems.
Collected intelligence can be transmitted to ground control centers and shared in real time with ships, aircraft, and allied forces.
German defense officials emphasized that leveraging the operational experience of partner nations already flying the MQ-9B — including the UK and Belgium — will support a smooth transition to operational service, though infrastructure development and crew training remain prerequisites ahead of first flights.
