General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has completed the first flight of an MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft destined for Belgium‘s Ministry of Defence. The flight, conducted on Feb. 20 at GA-ASI’s facility in El Mirage, California, validated the aircraft’s controllability and safe landing capabilities.
According to the company, the initial flight is part of a series of ground and flight tests designed to evaluate the drone’s performance. It marks a key milestone in Brussels’ four-aircraft deal with GA-ASI, signed in 2020 and worth $188.9 million. That sole-source contract is part of the country’s larger $600 million Foreign Military Sales agreement with the United States, which also covers ground control stations, support equipment and spares.
GA-ASI touts the MQ-9B as the world’s most advanced RPA, featuring long endurance, extended range and all-weather capabilities. The SkyGuardian variant can fly for over 40 hours, operate in civil airspace, and perform automatic takeoff and landing. Its open architecture allows for various configurations to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other applications.
Chris Dusseault, GA-ASI’s vice president of MQ-9B programs in Europe, noted that Belgium is the second European nation after the United Kingdom to receive the MQ-9B. The company also has existing orders from Canada, Poland, Japan and Taiwan.
Belgium’s aircraft acquisition includes logistics and sustainment services for its SkyGuardian fleet. Last July, GA-ASI secured a separate $48.54 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide depot repair, engineering, software and field team support until December of this year.