The training, which began in Belgium and progressed through GA-ASI’s Flight Test & Training Center in North Dakota, culminated with final exercises at the company’s Desert Horizon facility in El Mirage, California. David R. Alexander, President of GA-ASI, emphasized that such in-depth training is integral to ensuring allied nations can fully leverage the capabilities of their new systems, stating it ensures Belgium is “ready and able to operate their MQ-9Bs and maximize the benefits.”
The curriculum provided the Belgian aircrew with the foundational skills necessary to operate the MQ-9B and its sophisticated suite of mission systems. This included hands-on training with the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and the System for Tasking and Real-Time Exploitation (STARE). The program covered a wide range of operational scenarios, from standard Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to emergency procedures and mastering the aircraft’s Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC).
This training achievement coincides with the ongoing production of Belgium’s MQ-9B fleet. The first aircraft successfully completed its inaugural flight in February and is scheduled to undergo final Acceptance Test Procedures before its delivery to Belgium by the end of September. The Belgian Ministry of Defence has purchased four MQ-9B aircraft, along with two Certified Ground Control Stations.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is recognized for its exceptional endurance and the ability to operate in unsegregated airspace using a GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid system. As part of a growing global family, the MQ-9B platform, which includes the SeaGuardian variant, has been selected by numerous nations, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and India, underscoring its status as a key asset for modern defense and reconnaissance.
