General Atomics Lands $14 Billion Contract for MQ-9 Support

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, USA, has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at $14 billion for supporting MQ-9 operations.

The awarded contract involves development, procurement, upgrading, and any related activities for the MQ-9 platform.

The contract tasks will be performed at GA-ASI’s facilities in Poway, California, and works are expected to be completed by December 31, 2031.

The contract includes Foreign Military Sales (FMS) favoring India and potential future FMS customers of the MQ-9 platform.

Currently, GA-ASI produces the MQ-9B in the SkyGuardian version for ISR/ISTAR and precision attack missions, and the SeaGuardian for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare missions. The MQ-9B STOL version is also part of the family, designed to operate from semi-prepared advanced bases or from ships with large flight decks.

GA-ASI has formed partnerships with other manufacturers, such as Saab, to offer versions of the MQ-9B for special tasks like radar surveillance and early warning (AEW) or electronic warfare.

Source: US Department of War (US DoW)

Photo credit: @General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI)