# Allied Nations Expand MQ-9B Fleets

International buyers are procuring General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9B variants for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and maritime surveillance missions. Procurement activity includes the UK’s planned 16 Protector RG Mk1 aircraft to replace its Reaper fleet, a December 2023 contract valued at C$2.49 billion for 11 aircraft with Hellfire missiles and ground control stations, and a July 2025 procurement of four SkyGuardians through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. The article identifies no new solicitation or procurement contact, but points to demand across aircraft, sensors, communications, weapons integration, ground-control systems and sustainment.

- Contractors can use these programs to assess opportunities for subsystem, integration and lifecycle-support work alongside the aircraft procurements; the article specifically identifies sensors, communications, weapons integration, ground-control systems and sustainment as areas of demand.
- The Canadian contract’s **C$2.49 billion** value and its inclusion of missiles and ground control stations illustrate the breadth of capability packages being procured, beyond the aircraft themselves.
- Because no new solicitation or contact is identified, businesses should treat this as market and program context rather than an active bid opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 08, 2026

### Government Entities
- UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
- NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
- Japan Coast Guard
- Indian Navy

### Vendors
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) (Aircraft developer and manufacturer)

### Sources
- [The Reaper Variants: MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian](https://thedefensepost.com/2026/10/08/mq9b-sky-guardian-sea-guardian-guide) - The Defense Post