Taiwan MQ-9B acquisition extended to 2027

Taiwan’s four GA-ASI MQ-9B SeaGuardians will almost certainly be used to conduct extensive surveillance and reconnaissance over the Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel, while monitoring Chinese aircraft incursions into the ADIZ. This is a representative photo of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian. (General Atomics)

The US Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) award of a second contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) to deliver four MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Taiwan extends the procurement deadline to 2027 and increases the acquisition cost, it has been confirmed to
Janes
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In this new and second “undefinitised” contract announced on 12 March the DoD disclosed a USD250 million sale of the four MQ-9B medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs to Taiwan, plus two ground control stations (GCSs) and support equipment. It followed a USD217.6 million contract awarded to GA-ASI on 1 May 2023 for the sale of the four MQ-9B UAVs, two GCSs, spares, and support equipment.

A spokesperson for the DoD’s Department of the Air Force confirmed to
Janes