MQ-9B for Canada: first two drones in production at General Atomics in San Diego

According to the country's procurement agency, Canada's MQ-9B project is making rapid progress. In December 2023, Canada contracted General Atomics to supply eleven MQ-9B long-range drones together with the ground control stations and support facilities required to operate them.

The first two MQ-9Bs are accordingly already being built at General Atomics in San Diego. Initial testing with these two systems is set to begin as early as 2026.

MQ-9B: controlled exclusively via SATCOM

The MQ-9B is regarded as the next generation of “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems” (RPAS). It offers high endurance and range, takes off and lands automatically and is controlled solely via SATCOM. It was first delivered to a customer in 2022, namely the British Royal Air Force. Contracts with Belgium, the US Air Force and other armed forces followed later.

Canada plans to base the MQ-9Bs at 14 Wing Greenwood, NS, and 19 Wing Comox, BC; they are to be controlled from Ottawa. Under current planning, construction of the infrastructure begins next year, with delivery of the first RPAS then expected in 2028.