The US Coast Guard has ordered four MQ-9B unmanned aircraft systems from General Atomics under a contract valued at $247.8 million. The acquisition is intended to strengthen the service’s long-range maritime surveillance capabilities and support a wider range of offshore missions. These include border protection, infrastructure security and search-and-rescue operations. The Coast Guard’s use of long-range unmanned aircraft has also contributed to enforcement activities against illicit trafficking. During fiscal year 2026, such systems, including the MQ-9B, helped the service seize approximately 60,700 pounds of illegal substances, with an estimated value of $306 million. The additional aircraft are expected to expand the service’s ability to monitor maritime areas over extended distances and support operational teams with surveillance information.
