US officially announces Belgian FMS deal for SkyGuardian
FMS customer Belgium is to receive four MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAVs, two ground stations, spare parts and support equipment from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Work on the $188.87 million contract from the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, confirmed on 14 August, will be completed by 31 March 2024.
FMS funds of $94.34 million are being obligated at the time of award.
SkyGuardian is a variant of the Predator B that was developed to meet European and US Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness certification standards.
Previous FMS orders for the UAV have been placed by Australia and the UK, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
The SkyGuardian deal for Belgium was approved in March 2019, and nine Belgian companies are involved in the industry team tasked with delivering the system.
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