US considers Spain MQ-9 sale
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated parts, equipment, and logistical support to the Spanish government for an estimated cost of $243 million, it was announced on 6 October.
The government of Spain has requested equipment including four MQ-9 Block 5 UAS, 20 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Guidance Unit (EGI) (three per aircraft, and eight spares), two Mobile Ground Control Stations (MGCS), five Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (MTS-B) (one per aircraft, one spare), five Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Lynx AN/APY-8 (one per aircraft, one spare).
The estimated cost if the sale goes ahead is $80 million.
Spain will deploy the aircraft for ISR in support of homeland security, peace enforcement, peacekeeping, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism operations. Operating the MQ-9 will increase interoperability with US, UK, French and Italian forces.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
