Japan to procure 23 MQ-9B SeaGuardians
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to acquire 23 MQ-9B SeaGuardians from GA-ASI to fulfil its requirement of long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (GA-ASI)
Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) is working to finalise a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) to procure MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
A spokesperson for the MoD told Janes, “The JMSDF plans to acquire 23 MQ-9B SeaGuardians.”
The spokesperson said if the MoD is able to sign the contract with GA-ASI by fiscal year (FY) 2025, it will expect the MQ-9B SeaGuardians to be delivered to the JMSDF in FY 2028.
GA-ASI announced in early December 2024 that its SeaGuardian has been selected by the JMSDF for the service's long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme. The JMSDF has been testing SeaGuardian since May 2023, GA-ASI said.
Japan's defence budget request for FY 2025 highlights the MoD's plans to procure long-endurance UAVs to “strengthen intelligence and surveillance capabilities while minimising human casualties”.
GA-ASI said the JMSDF conducted different tests with SeaGuardian including evaluations about using the RPA to conduct missions currently undertaken by manned platforms.
According to Janes All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned , SeaGuardian has a length of 11.7 m, a wingspan of 24 m, a maximum take-off weight of 5,670 kg, and a maximum external payload capacity of 2,155 kg. The RPA has an operating altitude of 40,000 ft, a maximum speed of 210 kt, a maximum range of 6,000 n miles, and a maximum endurance of 30 h.
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