On December 18, the committee included the MQ-9B in a broader procurement approval, highlighting its role in unmanned maritime reconnaissance and submarine detection using sonobuoys. The announcement did not specify the number of systems to be acquired or provide a delivery timeline.
The SeaGuardian variant of the MQ-9B is equipped with the Leonardo Seaspray 7500 radar, which uses an active electronically scanned array housed in a detachable underfuselage fairing. This sensor suite expands the capabilities of the SkyGuardian through advanced remote sensing technologies.
The acquisition is intended to complement the German Navy’s recent introduction of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft. The first of eight Poseidon aircraft was delivered on November 7, and the SeaGuardian is expected to operate alongside it as a force multiplier extending sensor reach and operational coverage beyond the horizon.
