2026 05 20

First international operational mission of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian

The first MQ-9B SkyGuardians, remotely piloted aircraft, have just begun their very first operational mission. This marks a major step forward for our intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as a milestone for Belgian Defence. These aircraft offer an exceptional flight range, ultra-high-precision sensors, complete interoperability with our European partners, and enhanced safety for our operations.
The Belgian Air Force is taking an important step forward with the successful completion of the first ferry flight of one of its remotely piloted MQ-9B aircraft. Taking off from Florennes Air Base, the aircraft successfully landed at Sigonella Base in Sicily, Italy, after a flight of just over 8 hours, covering a distance of more than 1,500 nautical miles.
This success required extensive coordination with the military authorities and air traffic control of the countries flown over. This flight represents a concrete step forward in the operational deployment of our MQ-9Bs, demonstrating their ability to be deployed quickly and securely over long distances. It is part of the progressive capability build-up within the Belgian Air Force.
This deployment takes place within the framework of Operation Silent Spear, through which Belgian Defence contributes to NATO's Operation Sea Guardian. The Belgian MQ-9Bs are deployed to enhance maritime situational awareness and contribute to security in the Mediterranean region.
The core tasks of this Belgian mission are multifaceted. First and foremost, the aircraft focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance by systematically collecting airborne data to provide a real-time picture of all maritime movements. Additionally, they are dedicated to countering illegal migration by detecting and monitoring clandestine migration routes along Europe's southern maritime approaches at an early stage. Addressing arms smuggling is also a priority, involving the mapping and disruption of criminal smuggling networks in the region. Finally, the drones contribute to maritime situational awareness by supporting NATO and national partner authorities through high-quality image and data transmission, thereby strengthening overall maritime security and counter-terrorism efforts.
Although the Belgian government recently decided that these drones may be armed in the future, this current deployment in the Mediterranean Sea is strictly non-combatant. The mission is purely focused on observation and information gathering and runs through the months of May and June 2026.
In total, two MQ-9Bs are currently stationed in Sigonella, as a first aircraft had already been transported there on April 27 aboard an A400M. This marks the first operational deployment of this capability in an international context from a foreign base.
The MQ-9B, which is remotely piloted from Belgium, is capable of conducting long-endurance missions over vast areas, particularly maritime environments. This makes the aircraft exceptionally well-suited for NATO operations. This deployment illustrates the evolution of the Belgian Air Force's capabilities and its integration into multinational operations.
Info and images : Belgain AIr Force, Belgian Defence , Florennnes AB © F. DE RIBAUCOURT, Moors

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Source: Aviation Day