On December 3, 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has selected the MQ-9B SeaGuardian for its Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program. Although the total number of units to be procured remains undisclosed, the decision follows JMSDF’s extensive operational trials with the SeaGuardian since May 2023 under its Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Trial Operations Project. During these trials, the UAV was evaluated for its effectiveness in a variety of missions, particularly in assessing its ability to complement or replace roles traditionally carried out by manned aircraft.
