Belgium has taken delivery of its first MQ-9B SkyGuardian, which arrived at Florennes Air Base on August 18. The system is part of a program launched in 2018 that experienced several technical delays before reaching this milestone. An official presentation of the aircraft and its newly built infrastructure is scheduled for September 23.
Developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the MQ-9B is an upgraded variant of the MQ-9 Reaper. It is certified to meet international civil aviation standards, enabling safe operation in civilian airspace. The aircraft has a wingspan of 24 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 5,670 kilograms, and an endurance exceeding 40 hours. Powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, it can operate at altitudes up to 40,000 feet and cover ranges of 11,000 kilometers.
The SkyGuardian is primarily intended for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, though it is capable of carrying weapons. It features nine hardpoints for payloads such as Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV bombs. Its sensors include the Lynx II synthetic aperture radar and the AN/DAS-1 MTS-B electro-optical/infrared system, with options for maritime radars, an Automatic Identification System, electronic warfare kits, signals intelligence equipment, and anti-submarine systems. Integration with the Link-16 network ensures interoperability with NATO forces.
Belgian industry has contributed to the program by supplying components and providing maintenance services. The acquisition also included a comprehensive training effort, with six pilots, six sensor operators, and six mission intelligence coordinators completing instruction in the United States. Training covered ground control operations, emergency procedures, and flight operations, including nine-hour missions in California. A second phase focused on operational tactics will take place in the United Kingdom. At Florennes, the Belgian Air Force reactivated the 2nd Squadron Comet to operate the drones.
On July 22, the United States confirmed the system’s compliance with Belgian requirements after completing an Acceptance Test Procedure. The aircraft was then dismantled, transported on A400M aircraft, and reassembled in Belgium earlier this month.
The introduction of armed drones represents a shift in Belgian defense policy. While the MQ-9Bs will be used mainly for reconnaissance, government approval allows them to be equipped for precision strikes under strict rules of engagement. Belgium is also contributing to multinational efforts in support of Ukraine through drone capabilities.
The establishment of a dedicated “Drones and Innovation” Task Force, led by Lieutenant General Michel Van Strythem, underlines the broader transformation of the Belgian Armed Forces, which are increasingly prioritizing autonomous systems. The SkyGuardian program is both a technological upgrade and part of a larger modernization effort that places Belgium within NATO’s evolving drone and ISR framework.
Belgian Aircrew completes training on MQ-9B SkyGuardian
