Germany has ordered eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, adding a long-endurance unmanned layer to its future maritime patrol posture.
The Bundeswehr confirmed the purchase on January 12, 2026. The order includes four ground control stations and will be executed through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). First systems are expected to enter service from 2028.
The SeaGuardian fleet will be operated by the Marinefliegergeschwader 3 “Graf Zeppelin” at Nordholz, with personnel training and infrastructure upgrades already planned. The aircraft are intended for over-water operations in areas such as the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, supporting sea lane monitoring and protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
Complement to P-8A Poseidon
Germany sees the SeaGuardian as a complement to crewed P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. While the P-8A carries a larger sensor and weapons suite and operates at higher speed, the MQ-9B offers persistence of up to 30 hours, enabling continuous surveillance across wide maritime areas.
The MQ-9B configuration selected by Germany can carry over 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of payload including electro-optical/infrared cameras, maritime radars, and wing pods capable of dispensing sonobuoys, allowing the system to contribute to anti-submarine warfare (ASW) tasks. Sensor data will be shared across naval platforms and, when required, with allied units.
Parallel to Eurodrone
The Bundestag’s budget committee approved funding for the purchase in December as part of a wider €50 billion defense modernization package.
The move comes as Germany remains a core partner in the Eurodrone program, under which Berlin is due to receive seven systems.
After years of delay, Eurodrone now risks entering service as a platform that is not optimized for the high-intensity scenarios European planners are now prioritizing. Its endurance and payload capacity could still make it attractive as a maritime patrol and ISR asset, and Japan has already expressed interest in the program itself with a view to similar applications.
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