USAF awards General Atomics about $108 million for Canada's SkyGuardian program

The Air Force last week approved the sale of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to Canada to support the country's remotely piloted aircraft systems program, according to a Dec. 27 Pentagon contract announcement.

The nearly $108 million firm, fixed-price and undefinitized contract includes hardware and related components to build the platform, which is mostly used for extended intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in harsh Arctic conditions.

Canada in December 2023 signed a contract with GA-ASI to purchase 11 MQ-9Bs to help bolster the country’s operations through the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the Five Eyes alliance and NATO, the company said in a news release at the time.

The first SkyGuardian planned for Canada will be delivered in 2028, however the platform is already part of the U.K. Royal Air Force fleet and Japan’s Coast Guard. The U.S. Navy has also used MQ-9Bs in exercises such as Northern Edge, Group Sail and Integrated Battle Problem, GA-ASI said.

The U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command and Belgium additionally have contracts with GA-ASI for SkyGuardians.

About $13 million in foreign military sales funding was obligated at the time of the award via the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.