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| Taiwan Will Soon Receive 4 MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones Worth $217.6 Million |
Taipei - Taiwan will soon receive four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones through a contract signed by the Pentagon with General Atomics worth USD 217.6 million. The contract covers four MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, two certifiable ground control stations, spare parts and support equipment. The contract will be realized until May 5, 2025, according to the company.
Currently, Taiwan is undergoing a rapid modernization program to maintain military readiness as the country faces a serious threat from China. The procurement of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian coincides with long-lasting programs such as the procurement of 56 F-16 Vipers and T-5 Brave Eagle aircraft which will be delivered by the end of 2026.
SkyGuardian drones can operate in the air for up to 40 hours in all weather and integrate securely into civilian airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to provide real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world, day or night. Taipei's decision to acquire the MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a realization of the US Government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) announced in November 2020.