Canada’s Department of Defence has announced the start of production for its MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones in San Diego, California.
The milestone is part of a 2.49-billion Canadian dollar ($1.72-billion) program signed by Ottawa in 2023 to procure up to 11 MQ-9Bs from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Current work in San Diego encompasses the first two aircraft ordered, which are scheduled for a critical testing phase in 2026.
Exciting progress on the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) project! ✈️ The first two MQ-9B aircraft are in production in San Diego, a key milestone as we prepare to start testing in 2026. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/lzcR4obFKj
— National Defence (@NationalDefence) January 10, 2025
In addition to the aircraft, Canada will receive six ground control stations, a larger ground control center, two hangars, sustainment services, and training solutions for mission crew and technicians.
Moreover, the acquisition covers an initial tranche of the 100-pound (45-kilogram) Hellfire air-to-ground missile for use on the SkyGuardian.
Deliveries of the package will begin in 2028.
Deployments to Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic
Ottawa said the incoming MQ-9Bs will be stationed at the Canadian Forces Base Greenwood in Nova Scotia and Comox in British Columbia.
Meanwhile, the government’s earlier procurement announcement noted that the drones will be used for territorial monitoring as well as civilian aid tasks, including flood and forest fire response.
The fleet will also patrol the Canadian Pacific, the Atlantic coast, and parts of the Arctic due to its special capability to undertake operations in extreme weather conditions.
In December 2024, General Atomics received a $107.9-million contract to deliver hardware and components to further support the Canadian SkyGuardian development.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drone
The SkyGuardian is based on General Atomics’ MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system (also called the MQ-1 Predator), which was introduced in the early 2000s.
With enhanced mission and cargo capability, the SkyGuardian is currently offered for long-endurance tasks in complex domains.
The drone measures 38 feet (12 meters) long, has a wingspan of 79 feet (23 meters), and a payload capacity of 4,750 pounds (2,155 kilograms).
It is powered by a Honeywell turboprop engine for a service ceiling of 43,00 feet (13,106 meters), a range of 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles/11,112 kilometers), and a maximum speed of 300 miles (483 kilometers) per hour.
