Taiwan MQ-9B Sustainment: $38.8M US Deal Awarded 17 Days After First Hualien Flights

The United States awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a $38.8 million sole-source contract to provide logistics and sustainment support for Taiwan's MQ-9B unmanned aircraft. Awarded on October 1 and publicly reported later that month, the contract runs through August 31, 2029, covering support arrangements rather than the purchase of additional aircraft. Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9Bs, with the first two arriving earlier in 2026 and conducting initial flights from Hualien in September; the remaining two are expected in 2027. The contract supports the fleet's introduction and continued operation without establishing that all four aircraft have been delivered.