In a significant step to sharpen its maritime surveillance and anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence has ordered eight MQ‑9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft systems (UAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI). The acquisition, valued at roughly €1.52 billion (~$1.75–$1.78 billion), was executed through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and marks a major investment in maritime domain awareness for German naval forces.
The SeaGuardian is a medium‑altitude, long‑endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) optimized for maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and ASW missions. It stems from the MQ‑9B family, a next‑generation design that offers:
Endurance of up to ~30 hours, significantly outlasting manned platforms on patrol.
A suite of maritime sensors, including multi‑mode radars, electro‑optical and infrared cameras, and acoustic sonobuoy dispensers to detect surface and subsurface contacts.
Pole‑to‑pole satellite control and certified detect‑and‑avoid systems for safe operations in civilian airspace.
The configuration selected by Germany allows the SeaGuardian to focus initially on surveillance and reconnaissance, with planned upgrades to full ASW capability — including sonobuoy deployers — slated for the early 2030s.
Germany is simultaneously expanding its manned maritime patrol fleet with eight Boeing P‑8A Poseidon MMA aircraft, the first of which arrived in November 2025. Together with SeaGuardian, the Poseidon forms a complementary maritime ISR and ASW toolkit:
P‑8A Poseidon: High‑speed (~900 km/h/c. 560 mph), highly capable in sensor payload and weapons delivery (torpedoes, missiles).
MQ‑9B SeaGuardian: Persistent long‑range presence over sea lanes and choke points with extended loiter times that fill endurance gaps left by crewed platforms.
In practice, SeaGuardians can patrol broad maritime zones such as the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, cueing Poseidons or other assets for detailed engagement or prosecution of contacts.
Interoperability with NATO partners was a key element in Germany’s choice of the MQ‑9B platform. With allies like the UK, Belgium, Poland, and Denmark already acquiring variants of the MQ‑9B series, shared systems simplify coalition planning, training, and logistics.
Germany plans to operate SeaGuardians from Naval Air Wing 3 “Graf Zeppelin” at Nordholz, the same base tasked with its Poseidon MMA fleet, ensuring integrated command and control.
The deal includes four certifiable ground control stations, enabling safe unmanned operations even in civilian airspace and bolstering Germany’s ability to conduct wide‑area maritime surveillance with persistent continuity.
Meanwhile, crew training programs, infrastructure upgrades at Nordholz, and interoperability exercises with NATO allies will prepare German forces for operational employment of the new UAS fleet ahead of active service entry.
Germany’s investment in the SeaGuardian fleet represents a broader shift toward multi‑layered maritime surveillance and ASW posture. In an era of increasing submarine activity and strategic competition in Europe’s northern and eastern waters, persistent ISR and quick response options are critical to securing sea lines of communication and safeguarding critical infrastructure — from undersea cables to shipping routes.
This blended force of unmanned and manned systems not only extends Germany’s maritime reach but also strengthens NATO’s collective capacity to monitor and respond to evolving underwater and surface threats.
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