Japan wants more MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones

The Japanese Coast Guard has been using American MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones since 2022. Now the Maritime Defence Force has also decided to get drones from General Atomics.

Here's What We Know

Japan's naval defence force will receive several drones to test how effective they will be in manned and unmanned missions. The tests will take place in 2023.

The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is the naval version of the SkyGuardian drone and is an evolution of the Naval Reaper concept. The Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) class drone can fly for 8 hours.

It has a maximum range of 2,200km. SeaGuardian is equipped with Leonardo Seaspray 7500E V2 AESA radar which can detect ships, submarine periscopes and people.

Source: General Atomics