Coast Guard Orders Its First Four MQ-9B Drones for $247.8 Million
The US Coast Guard has ordered its first four MQ-9B long-range unmanned aircraft for $247.8 million, including ground control stations and supporting equipment. The service announced the purchase in a news release on October 9, 2026, according to Breaking Defense.
The aircraft come from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and were ordered through a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) contract. Defence Industry Europe reports the order was placed on September 25.
Coast Guard MQ-9B Order From General Atomics
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | US Coast Guard |
| Contractor | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) |
| Contract vehicle | US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) contract |
| Value | $247.8 million |
| Scope | Four MQ-9B aircraft, ground control stations and supporting equipment |
| Order placed | September 25, 2026 (Defence Industry Europe) |
| Announced | October 9, 2026 |
| Armament | Not expected to carry weapons (Coast Guard spokesperson) |
| Delivery schedule | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
“The MQ-9B long-range unmanned aircraft systems will expand our reach and strengthen our ability to protect the nation,” said Anthony Antognoli, the Coast Guard’s assistant commandant and program executive officer for robotics and autonomous systems. He said the investment will give crews “a longer-range view of our maritime domain” so they can detect threats earlier and act faster.
What the Coast Guard Wants the Drones to Do
According to the Coast Guard’s release, the aircraft will help oversee offshore waters, support search and rescue and counter drug trafficking, among other tasks. Defence Industry Europe adds border and critical infrastructure protection and efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to the list.
The service points to recent results from the smaller aircraft it already uses. It said MQ-9A drones operated by CBP supported the seizure of 60,700 pounds of illegal drugs and the apprehension of roughly 20 smugglers in fiscal 2026. Defence Industry Europe puts the value of that seizure at $306 million and says the flights were with Joint Interagency Task Force South.
MQ-9B vs MQ-9A Compared
Breaking Defense describes the MQ-9B SeaGuardian as designed for maritime surveillance flights of more than 30 hours with a mission radius of roughly 1,200 nautical miles, citing General Atomics. The sources reviewed do not say which MQ-9B configuration the Coast Guard bought, so the table compares the maritime SeaGuardian with the MQ-9A the service already flies with CBP.
| Feature | MQ-9A Reaper | MQ-9B SeaGuardian |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 66 ft (20 m) | 79 ft (24 m), a figure GA-ASI gives for the MQ-9B family |
| Endurance | Over 27 hours; 34 hours for the Extended Range version | Over 30 hours, depending on configuration |
| Range | Not stated on the company page | Mission radius of 1,200 nautical miles in standard maritime ISR and anti-submarine configuration |
| Maritime sensors | Multi-mode maritime radar, automatic identification system (AIS), electronic support measures | Centerline wide-area maritime radar, AIS, electronic support measures, optional anti-submarine kit with up to 40 A-size or 80 G-size sonobuoys |
| Airspace design | Triple-redundant avionics and fault-tolerant flight controls | Designed to meet NATO STANAG 4671 and civil airspace rules, with a Detect and Avoid system |
How the MQ-9B Order Is Funded
The Coast Guard said the purchase draws on the fiscal 2025 reconciliation package, which included nearly $25 billion for the service, along with fiscal 2026 appropriations. Defence Industry Europe calls that the largest capital investment in the service’s history and says about $16.3 billion of it has already gone to orders for new assets.
The final number is lower than earlier reporting. Military Times reported in September 2025 that the service planned to spend about $266 million of the reconciliation money on MQ-9 aircraft, with up to four units. The sources reviewed do not explain the difference from $247.8 million.
From Borrowed Reapers to Its Own Fleet
This is a new step for a service that has so far flown other agencies’ aircraft. According to a Coast Guard factsheet cited by Breaking Defense, it has teamed up with CBP and flown CBP’s MQ-9A drones for operations out of Texas. Defence Industry Europe says the joint programme began in 2008 as a pilot study on the southwest border and has since extended to the Gulf of Mexico. For a wider look at the aircraft family, see our MQ-9 Reaper explainer.
In 2025 Coast Guard officials told Military Times they hoped to move operations beyond the Texas site to West Coast and East Coast locations and to run the drones as the service’s own. The same officials described the MQ-9 as able to stay aloft for about 24 hours, compared with roughly 14 hours for a Coast Guard C-130 and up to 10 hours for a Navy P-8. Those are officials’ figures, not independent measurements.
General Atomics Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Diego, California (GA-ASI is based in Poway, California) |
| Founded | July 18, 1955, San Diego |
| Employees | About 15,000 (2025, General Atomics group) |
| Divisions | Energy and Electromagnetic Systems; GA-ASI is the aircraft subsidiary |
| Known programmes | MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian |
GA-ASI is a privately held subsidiary of General Atomics. Our fuller General Atomics company profile covers ownership and products.
What the Order Does Not Say
Four aircraft is a small fleet. The sources reviewed give no delivery dates, basing plan or confirmation of the exact MQ-9B variant, and the Coast Guard says the aircraft are not expected to carry weapons. Any judgement that the buy marks the start of a larger long-range drone force is analysis, not a company or Coast Guard claim.
The Coast Guard has said it validated a mission need for long-range unmanned systems, per Defence Industry Europe, and the order follows its 2023 unmanned aircraft strategy. Defence Industry Europe also says the service is moving toward more medium-range systems on surface assets.
Coast Guard MQ-9B FAQ
How much did the Coast Guard pay for the MQ-9B drones?
$247.8 million for four MQ-9B aircraft, ground control stations and supporting equipment, according to the Coast Guard.
Is this the Coast Guard’s first MQ-9B purchase?
Yes. Breaking Defense says the service is buying MQ-9B drones for the first time. It has previously flown CBP’s MQ-9A aircraft.
Will the Coast Guard MQ-9B drones be armed?
No. A Coast Guard spokesperson told Breaking Defense they are not expected to carry weapons.
What is the difference between the MQ-9A and MQ-9B?
According to GA-ASI, the MQ-9B has a 79 ft wingspan against 66 ft for the MQ-9A and is designed to meet NATO STANAG 4671 and civil airspace requirements. The SeaGuardian adds maritime sensors.
Who is paying for the drones?
The order draws on the fiscal 2025 reconciliation package and fiscal 2026 appropriations, the Coast Guard said.
- Breaking Defense – “Coast Guard places $248 million order for first MQ-9B drones” (October 9, 2026): breakingdefense.com
- Defence Industry Europe – “U.S. Coast Guard buys four MQ-9B long-range unmanned aircraft from General Atomics” (October 2026): defence-industry.eu
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems – MQ-9B SeaGuardian, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and MQ-9A product pages: ga-asi.com
- Military Times – “Coast Guard to get first MQ-9 drones” (September 2, 2025): militarytimes.com
- Wikipedia – General Atomics; General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (company data)
