“This event ushers in a new era of information dominance for Belgium,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. “MQ-9B is the world’s premiere remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) system, delivering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in a high-endurance unmanned platform.”

The Belgian Air Force prepared extensively for the integration of the platform. Earlier this year, the RPA completed Acceptance Test Procedures at GA-ASI’s Southern California facilities, where it first flew in February. Meanwhile, 18 Belgian personnel undertook initial training at GA-ASI’s Flight Test & Training Centre in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and gained live flight experience at the company’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California.

Air Chief, Major General Geert De Decker, emphasised the strategic significance of the achievement:

“With the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, Belgium enters a new era of ISR capability. This achievement reflects not only technological progress, but also the strength of our collaboration with General Atomics—built on mutual understanding, trust, and a shared commitment to operational excellence.”

Belgium now joins the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) as the first European operators of the MQ-9B. The platform recently became the first large RPA to receive a Military Type Certificate (MTC) from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority, authorising safe operation in civil airspace without geographic restrictions.

Selected by a growing number of countries including Canada, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force, the MQ-9B is designed for versatility across multiple domains. With satellite control spanning pole to pole and de-icing systems enabling operations in Arctic conditions, the SkyGuardian continues to demonstrate its resilience and global reach.