The Polish government has signed a $310-million procurement agreement with General Atomics for an undisclosed number of MQ-9B Sky Guardian remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).
General Atomics will deliver the systems by the first quarter of 2027 as a replacement for an unknown number of MQ-9A Reaper RPAS leased from the US in 2023.
The MQ-9A were leased for $70.6 million to bolster the reconnaissance capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces.
“The MQ-9B unmanned aerial systems will enable the acquisition of reconnaissance data in the field of image reconnaissance through the use of optoelectronic heads and SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), and in the field of radio-electronic reconnaissance,” the Polish military stated.
“Additionally, it can also hit ground and sea targets from the air using a number of air combat assets such as guided missiles or bombs.The detailed specification of the system is classified information.”
Drone Force
Once delivered, the MQ-9B will add significant capability to the drone force Warsaw is planning to launch on January 1, 2025.
The new military component will integrate a range of unmanned systems including aerial, land, naval surface, and underwater.
To coordinate their employment, a drone military inspector is being put in place by the Polish army, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said last month.
MQ-9B Sky Guardian
The system comes replete with a range of advanced capabilities, including the Lynx multi-mode radar, automatic take-off and landing capabilities, and an electro-optical/infrared sensor.
The Reaper has a stated range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,150 miles/1,850 kilometers) and an operational altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600 meters).
It can fly non-stop for up to 40 hours via satellite in all types of weather, making it useful for long duration operations for surveillance and in support of ground forces.
