# Coast Guard Orders $247.8 Million MQ-9B Aircraft

On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard placed a $247.8 million order with General Atomics for four MQ-9B unmanned aircraft systems, ground control stations, and supporting equipment through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection contract. The purchase is funded through FY2025 budget reconciliation and FY2026 appropriations and is an awarded order, not an open solicitation. The signals differ on whether the aircraft are the SeaGuardian variant, so the order is best described as MQ-9B systems. The aircraft are intended to support maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and counter-drug missions.

- **Why this matters:** The order expands the Coast Guard’s long-range unmanned aircraft capability and may create follow-on needs for mission integration, maritime sensing, satellite communications, training, operations, and sustainment.
- Companies with relevant capabilities can assess how their offerings support MQ-9B maritime missions and prepare for potential downstream Coast Guard requirements; the signals identify no open solicitation or procurement contact.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Public Safety
**Topics:** Emergency Response
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

### Vendors
- General Atomics (Awardee and aircraft manufacturer)

### Sources
- [Coast Guard Buys Its Own MQ-9B Long-Range UAS - Defense Daily](https://www.defensedaily.com/coast-guard-buys-its-own-mq-9b-long-range-uas/unmanned-systems) - Defense Daily
- [Coast Guard places $248 million order for first MQ-9B drones - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/10/coast-guard-places-248-million-order-for-first-mq-9b-drones) - Breaking Defense
- [
	Coast Guard acquires four long-range unmanned aircraft  to strengthen maritime security > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases
](https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4623453/coast-guard-acquires-four-long-range-unmanned-aircraft-to-strengthen-maritime-s/) - USCG