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The operation of the Predator UAV "Guardian" by the [[Dominican Republic]] under U.S. supervision and funding, was revealed on the national news in July 2012. The program had been running for more than a month prior to that announcement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dominican authorities unleash a US Predator on drug trafficking(Update) |url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/technology/2012/7/16/44386/Dominican-authorities-unleash-a-US-Predator-on-drug-trafficking |newspaper=[[Dominican Today]] |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=15 August 2012}}</ref>
The operation of the Predator UAV "Guardian" by the [[Dominican Republic]] under U.S. supervision and funding, was revealed on the national news in July 2012. The program had been running for more than a month prior to that announcement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dominican authorities unleash a US Predator on drug trafficking(Update) |url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/technology/2012/7/16/44386/Dominican-authorities-unleash-a-US-Predator-on-drug-trafficking |newspaper=[[Dominican Today]] |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=15 August 2012}}</ref>

====France====
On 31 May 2013, French Defense Minister [[Jean-Yves Le Drian]] confirmed the order of two MQ-9 Reapers. The aircraft are to be delivered by the end of 2013. The Reaper was chosen to replace the [[EADS Harfang]] and was picked over the Israeli [[IAI Eitan|Heron TP]].<ref>[http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/145431/french-minister-confirms-reaper-buy%2C-sets-out-uav-strategy.html Why the French Army Urgently Needs Drones] - Defense-Aerospace.com, May 31, 2013</ref>


====Germany====
====Germany====

Revision as of 18:08, 31 May 2013

MQ-9 Reaper
MQ-9 Reaper
Role Unmanned combat air vehicle
National origin United States
Manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
First flight 2 February 2001
Introduction 1 May 2007
Status In service
Primary users United States Air Force
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Royal Air Force
Aeronautica Militare
Number built 57
Developed from General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
Developed into General Atomics Avenger

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (formerly called Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), capable of remote controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for use by the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, the CIA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Air Force, and the Italian Air Force. The MQ-9 and other UAVs are referred to as Remotely Piloted Vehicles/Aircraft (RPV/RPA) by the U.S. Air Force to indicate their human ground controllers.[1][2] The MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance.[3]

The MQ-9 is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier MQ-1 Predator; it can be controlled by the same ground systems used to control MQ-1s. The Reaper has a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) turboprop engine, far more powerful than the Predator's 115 hp (86 kW) piston engine. The power increase allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at almost three times the speed of the MQ-1.[3] The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS), including weapons employment.[4] The aircraft can also fly pre-programmed routes autonomously.[citation needed]

In 2008, the New York Air National Guard 174th Fighter Wing began the transition from F-16 piloted fighters to MQ-9 Reapers, becoming the first fighter squadron conversion to an all–unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) attack squadron.[5][6][7] In March 2011, the U.S. Air Force was training more pilots for advanced unmanned aerial vehicles than for any other single weapons system.[8]

Then Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force General T. Michael Moseley said, "We've moved from using UAVs primarily in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles before Operation Iraqi Freedom, to a true hunter-killer role with the Reaper."[3]

Development

Satellite antenna and sensors of a NOAA-NASA flight demonstrator, 2005.

With the success of the MQ-1 in combat, General Atomics anticipated the Air Force's desire for an upgraded aircraft and, using its own funds, set about redesigning the Predator drone for increased ability.

Prototype "Predator B"

General Atomics began development of the Reaper with the "Predator B-001", a proof-of-concept aircraft, which first flew on 2 February 2001. The B-001 was powered by an AlliedSignal Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-10T turboprop engine with 950 shp (712 kW). It had an airframe that was based on the standard Predator airframe, except with an enlarged fuselage and wings lengthened from 48 feet (14.6 m) to 66 feet (20 m). The B-001 had a speed of 220 knots (390 km/h) and could carry a payload of 750 pounds (340 kilograms) to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15.2 kilometers) with an endurance of 30 hours.[9]

The company refined the design, taking it in two separate directions. The first was a jet-powered version; "Predator B-002" was fitted with a Williams FJ44-2A turbofan engine with 10.2 kN (2,300 lbf, 1,040 kgf) thrust. It had payload capacity of 475 pounds (215 kilograms), a ceiling of 60,000 feet (18.3 kilometers) and endurance of 12 hours. The U.S. Air Force ordered two airframes for evaluation, delivered in 2007.[10] The first two airframes delivered with prototypes B-001 and B-002 (now in the USAF museum at Wright-Patterson AFB). B-002 was originally equipped with the FJ-44 engine but it was removed and a TPE-331-10T was installed so that the USAF could take delivery of two aircraft in the same configuration.

The second direction the design took was the "Predator B-003", referred to by GA as the "Altair", which has a new airframe with an 84-foot (25.6 m) wingspan and a takeoff weight of about 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg). Like the Predator B-001, it is powered by a TP-331-10T turboprop. This variant has a payload capacity of 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg), a maximum ceiling of 52,000 feet (15.8 km), and an endurance of 36 hours.[11][12]

Version for U.S. Air Force

First MQ-9 arrives at Creech AFB, March 2007.

In October 2001, the U.S. Air Force signed a contract with GA to purchase an initial pair of Predator B's (001 and 002) for evaluation, with follow-up orders for production machines. The first test MQ-9s were delivered to the Air Force in 2002. The name "Altair" did not follow the aircraft into testing, with the Air Force continuing to refer to the system as "Predator B" until it was renamed Reaper ("Altair" instead became the designation for the unarmed (003) NASA version).[9]

Operators, stationed at bases such as Creech Air Force Base, near Las Vegas, can hunt for targets and observe terrain using a number of sensors, including a thermal camera. One estimate has the on-board camera able to read a license plate from two miles (3 km) away.[13] An operator's command takes 1.2 seconds to reach the drone via a satellite link. The MQ-9 is fitted with six stores pylons. The inner stores pylons can carry a maximum of 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) each and allow carriage of external fuel tanks. The mid-wing stores pylons can carry a maximum of 600 pounds (270 kilograms) each, while the outer stores pylons can carry a maximum of 200 pounds (90 kilograms) each. An MQ-9 with two 1,000 pound (450 kilogram) external fuel tanks and a thousand pounds of munitions has an endurance of 42 hours.[12] The Reaper has an endurance of 14 hours when fully loaded with munitions.[3] The MQ-9 carries a variety of weapons including the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, the AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles, the AIM-9 Sidewinder,[13] and recently, the GBU-38 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition). Tests are underway to allow for the addition of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile.

The Air Force believed that the Predator B would give the service an improved "deadly persistence" capability, with the RPV flying over a combat area night and day waiting for a target to present itself. In this role an armed RPV neatly complements piloted strike aircraft. A piloted strike aircraft can be used to drop larger quantities of ordnance on a target while a cheaper RPV can be kept in operation almost continuously, with ground controllers working in shifts, carrying a lighter ordnance load to destroy targets.[12] In March 2011 U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that, while manned aircraft are needed, the Air Force must recognize “the enormous strategic and cultural implications of the vast expansion in remotely piloted vehicles” that already play a major role over Afghanistan and Iraq. “The view still lingers in some corners that, once I depart as secretary and once U.S. forces draw down from Iraq and Afghanistan in accordance with the president’s and NATO’s strategy, things can get back to what some consider to be real Air Force normal,” he said. “This must not happen.” Even as it buys new manned fighters and bombers, the Air Force must give equal weight to unmanned drones and “the service’s important role in the cyber and space domains.”[8]

By October 2007, the U.S. Air Force owned nine Reapers,[14] and by December 2010 owned 57 with plans to buy another 272, for a total buy of 329 Reapers.[15] On 18 May 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a certificate of authorization that allows the MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircraft to fly in U.S. civilian airspace to search for survivors of disasters. Requests had been made in 2005 for the aircraft to be used in search and rescue operations following Hurricane Katrina but, because there was no FAA authorization in place at the time, the planes were not used.[16]

In September 2007, the MQ-9 deployed into Iraq at Balad, the largest U.S. air base in Iraq.[17] On 28 October 2007, the Air Force Times reported an MQ-9 had achieved its first "kill", firing a Hellfire missile against Afghanistan insurgents in the Deh Rawood region of the mountainous Oruzgan province. The strike was a success, as stated by the United States Central Command Air Forces.[18]

An MQ-9 taking off in Afghanistan

Critics have stated that the USAF's insistence on qualified pilots flying RPVs is a bottleneck to expanding their deployment. Air Force Major General William Rew stated on 5 August 2008, "For the way we fly them right now"—fully integrated into air operations and often flying missions alongside manned aircraft—"we want pilots to fly them."[19] This may be exacerbating losses of Air Force aircraft, in comparison with US Army operations.[20]

The typical MQ-9 system consists of multiple aircraft, ground control station, communications equipment and links, maintenance spares, and military (or contractor) personnel. The crew consists of a pilot, sensor operator, and Mission Intelligence Coordinator. To meet combat requirements, the MQ-9 tailors its capabilities using mission kits of various combinations of weapons and sensors payloads. The Raytheon AN/AAS-52 multi-spectral targeting sensor suite includes a color/monochrome daylight TV, infrared, and image-intensified TV with laser rangefinder/target designator to designate targets for laser guided munitions. The Synthetic Aperture Radar system enables GBU-38 JDAM targeting, is capable of very fine resolution in both spotlight and strip modes, and has ground moving target indicator capability.

Testbed and upgrades

The Reaper is being used as a testbed for Gorgon Stare, a wide-area surveillance sensor system.[21]

In January 2012, General Atomics made available a new trailing arm design for the main landing gear of the Reaper. Benefits of the new gear include a 30%+ increase in landing weight capacity, an increase in gross takeoff weight by approximately 12% (10,500 lb vs. 11,700 lb), a maintenance-free shock absorber, which eliminates the need for nitrogen pressurization, a fully rejected takeoff brake system at a gross maximum weight of 11,700 lb, and includes provisions for automatic takeoff and landing capability and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) field upgrades.[22]

In April 2012, General Atomics announced possible upgrades to Air Force Reapers. They include adding two fuel pods under the wings, each with about 100 gallons of fuel, and installing their new heavy-weight landing gear. This would increase endurance to 37 hours. The wingspan can also be increased to 88 ft, increasing endurance to 42 hours.[23][24]

In November 2012, Raytheon completed ground verification tests for the ADM-160 MALD and MALD-J for integration onto the MQ-9 Reaper. Integration onto the aircraft is expected sometime in 2013, with the goal for an unmanned suppression of enemy air defenses capability.[25]

Design

The typical MQ-9 system is composed of multiple aircraft, ground-control stations, satellites, and flight and maintenance crews.[4] The aircraft is powered by a 950 horsepower turboprop, with a maximum speed of about 260 knots (300 miles per hour or 483 km per hour) and a cruising speed of 150-170 knots (278 to 315 km/hour). With a 66-foot/20.1168-meter wingspan, and a maximum payload of 3800 lb/1723.65 kilograms, the MQ-9 can be armed with a variety of weaponry, including Hellfire missiles and 500-lb laser-guided bomb units.[26] The Reaper has a range of 3,682 miles/5925.6 kilometers and an operational altitude of 50,000 ft/15,240m,[27] which make it especially useful for long-term loitering operations, both for surveillance and support of ground troops.[28]

Operational history

U.S. Air Force

MQ-9 Reaper in Afghanistan in 2007
UAV Operators at Joint Base Balad (LSA Anaconda), Iraq, 20 April 2005

On 1 May 2007, the 432d Wing of the U.S. Air Force was activated to operate MQ-9 Reaper as well as MQ-1 Predator UAVs at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The pilots first conducted combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan in the summer of 2007.[29] In October 2007 the USAF was flying operational missions in Afghanistan.[14] As of 6 March 2008, according to USAF Lieutenant General Gary North, the Reaper has attacked 16 targets in Afghanistan using 500 lb (230 kg) bombs and Hellfire missiles. On 4 February 2008 the MQ-9 dropped a bomb on a truck carrying an insurgent mortar and team near Kandahar.[30]

On 17 July 2008, the Air Force began flying Reaper missions within Iraq from Balad Air Base.[31][32] It was reported on 11 August 2008 that the 174th Fighter Wing of the USAF will consist entirely of Reapers.[33] By March 2009 the U.S. Air Force had 28 operational Reapers.[34]

On 13 September 2009, an MQ-9 was flying a combat mission over Afghanistan when positive control of the aircraft was lost resulting in the drone flying out of control towards the Afghan border with Tajikistan.[35] An F-15E Strike Eagle was sent to destroy it; the Reaper's engine was disabled with an AIM-9 missile. The satellite link with the vehicle was restored immediately after, leaving the operator no option other than to steer it into a mountainside along with its ordnance. It was the first time a US drone was destroyed intentionally by allied forces.[36]

Beginning in September 2009, Reapers were deployed by the Africa Command to the Seychelles islands for use in Indian Ocean anti-piracy patrols.[37]

As of July 2010, 38 Predators and Reapers have been lost during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, with another 9 crashing during training operations in the U.S.[38] The U.S. Air Force conducted more than 33,000 close air support mission flights in 2010, an increase of more than 20 percent compared with 2009.[8] As of March 2011, the U.S. Air Force had 48 Predator and Reaper combat air patrols flying in Iraq and Afghanistan compared with 18 in 2007.[8]

As of March 2011, the U.S. Air Force was training more pilots for advanced unmanned aerial vehicles than for any other single weapons system.[8]

In October 2011, the U.S. Air Force began operating Reapers out of Arba Minch in Ethiopia. It has been reported that these shall be used for surveillance only operations over Somalia.[39]

On 13 December 2011 an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper crashed at the Seychelles International Airport in Mahe, located in the Indian Ocean, 1,500 miles east of mainland Africa. The MQ-9 was not armed and no injuries were reported. The cause of the incident is unknown.[40] In 2012, the Reaper, Predator and Global Hawk were described as "... the most accident-prone aircraft in the Air Force fleet."[41] These figures must be taken with caution due to the nature of the aircraft that are often put in hostile or dangerous missions. However, the Predator and Reaper aircraft also have the highest operational readiness rate of any aircraft in the US DoD inventory, often exceeding 99% mission availability rate. These systems are extremely reliable by any standard.

Reapers and Predator drones were deployed in Benghazi, Libya after the attack that killed the US Ambassador in that city.[42]

NASA

NASA version Altair
NASA version Altair
NASA version Ikhana
NASA version Ikhana

NASA had initially expressed some interest in a production version of the B-002 turbofan-powered variant,[12] but instead has leased an unarmed version of the Reaper, which carries the GA-ASI company name "Altair". Altair is one of the first 3 "Predator-B" airframes. The other 2 airframes, known as "Predator-B 001" and "Predator-B 002", had a maximum gross weight of 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg). Altair differs from these models in that it has an 86-foot (26 m) long wingspan (20-foot (6.1 m) greater than early and current MQ-9s). The Altair has enhanced avionics systems to better enable it to fly in FAA-controlled civil airspace and demonstrate "over-the-horizon" command and control capability from a ground station. These aircraft are used by NASA's Earth Science Enterprise as part of the NASA ERAST Program to perform on-location science missions.[43]

In November 2006, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center obtained an MQ-9 from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The aircraft has been named Ikhana and its main goal is the Suborbital Science Program within the Science Mission Directorate. NASA also acquired a ground control station in a mobile trailer.[44] This aircraft was used extensively to survey the Southern California wildfires in 2007. The data was used to deploy firefighters to areas of the highest need.

The California Office of Emergency Services requested NASA support for the Esperanza Fire, and in under 24 hours the General Atomics Altair was launched on a 16-hour mission to map the perimeter of the fire. The Altair had just returned from a test mission a day before the Esperanza Fire started. The fire mapping research is a joint project with NASA and the US Forest Service.[45][46]

US Homeland Security

CBP's MQ-9 Guardian

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operated nine MQ-9s in August 2012. Two were based in North Dakota at Grand Forks Air Force Base, four were based in Arizona, at Fort Huachuca and one was based at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.[47] These aircraft were equipped with GA-ASI's Lynx synthetic aperture radar and Raytheon's MTS-B electro-optical infrared sensors.[48] CBP also had two maritime MQ-9s called Guardians, based at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.[49] The Guardians were equipped with the SeaVue marine search radar; their electro-optical infrared sensor was optimized for maritime operations.[47]

The United States Department of Homeland Security initially ordered one Predator B for border protection duty, referred to as MQ-9 CBP-101. It began operations 4 October 2005 and crashed in the Arizona desert on 25 April 2006. The NTSB determined (Record Identification: CHI06MA121[50]) that the cause of the crash was most likely pilot error by the aircraft's ground-based pilot in the use of a checklist. During its operational period, the aircraft flew 959 hours on patrol and had a part in 2,309 arrests. It also contributed to the seizure of four vehicles and 8,267 pounds (3,750 kg) of marijuana.[51] Because of these successes, a second Predator B, called "CBP-104" (initially referred to as "CBP-102"), was delivered in September 2006 and commenced limited border protection operations on 18 October 2006. The program was further expanded on 16 February 2009, including Canadian border patrols where US officials were concerned about the exploitation of the border by "drug smugglers, migrants and terrorists".[52]

The CBP-101 was equipped with the Lynx SAR, AX-15 payload, AN/ARC-210 radios, and other sensors and communications equipment; CBP-104 was enhanced with Ku-band satellite command and control link and an MTS-A EO/IR sensor.[51]

The President's FY 2006 emergency supplemental budget request added $45 million for the program and the FY 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill added an additional $20 million. In October 2006, GA-ASI announced a $33.9 million contract to supply two more Predator B systems by the fall of 2007.[53]

In the 25 April 2006 accident involving aircraft CBP-101, the pilot, remotely operating the vehicle from Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, reported a momentary lockup of the displays on the primary control console. The pilot switched control to a secondary console without following the checklist and inadvertently shut down the vehicle's engine, causing it to descend out of reach of communications and ultimately crash near Nogales, Arizona.[50]

Other users

Australia

In September 2006, the General Atomics Mariner demonstrator aircraft was operated by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) in an exercise designed to evaluate the aircraft's ability to aid in efforts to stem illegal fishing, drug running and illegal immigration. The Mariner operated from RAAF bases Edinburgh, South Australia and Learmonth, Western Australia in conjunction with a Royal Australian Navy Armidale class patrol boat, the Joint Offshore Protection Command and the Pilbara Regiment.[54]

Dominican Republic

The operation of the Predator UAV "Guardian" by the Dominican Republic under U.S. supervision and funding, was revealed on the national news in July 2012. The program had been running for more than a month prior to that announcement.[55]

France

On 31 May 2013, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed the order of two MQ-9 Reapers. The aircraft are to be delivered by the end of 2013. The Reaper was chosen to replace the EADS Harfang and was picked over the Israeli Heron TP.[56]

Germany

Germany has made a request to purchase five Reapers and four ground control stations, plus related support material and training. The request, being made through the Foreign Military Sales process, was presented to Congress through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 1 August 2008 and is valued at US$205 million.[57][58] However, Germany did not go through with this procurement for the time being and decided to lease the IAI Heron offered by IAI and Rheinmetall instead, initially for the duration of one year, representing a stop-gap measure before a long-term decision on a MALE-system is being made.[59][60][61][62]

Italy

On 1 August 2008, Italy submitted a FMS request through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency for four aircraft, four ground stations and five years of maintenance support, all valued at US$330 million.[57][63] Italy ordered two more aircraft in November 2009.[64] On 30 May 2012, it was reported that U.S. plans to sell kits to arm Italy's six Reapers with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs.[65] However Gen. Alberto Rosso has expressed frustration at American delays in integrating additional weapons onto the platform and suggested that Italy may have to seek UAS alternatives.[66]

United Kingdom

On 27 September 2006, the U.S. Congress was notified by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency that the United Kingdom was seeking to purchase a pair of MQ-9 Reapers. They are operated by No. 39 Squadron RAF from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.[67] A third MQ-9 was in the process of being purchased by the RAF in 2007.[67] On 9 November 2007, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that its MQ-9 Reapers had begun operations in Afghanistan against the Taliban.[68] In April 2008, following the crash of one of the UK's two Reapers, British special forces were sent to recover sensitive material from the wreckage before it was blown up to prevent the enemy from obtaining it.[69] By May 2011, five Reaper aircraft were in operation, with a further five on order.[70]

The second squadron to operate five MQ-9 Reapers for the RAF is XIII Sqn, which formally stood up on 26 October 2012.[71] No. 39 Squadron personnel were planned to gradually return to the UK in 2013 and in time both squadrons would each operate five Reapers from RAF Waddington.[72] In April 2013, XIII squadron started full operations from RAF Waddington, exercising control over a compliment of 10 Reapers, at that point all being based in Afghanistan.[73] In April 2013, the UK Minister for Defense Equipment, Support, and Technology stated that the Defense Ministry was studying the adoption of MBDA's Brimstone missile for the MQ-9.[74]

Variants

General Atomics designed a naval version of the Reaper, named the "Mariner", for the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program requirements. The design would have an increased fuel capacity in order to have an endurance of up to 49 hours.[75] Proposed variations on the ultimate design included one designed for carrier operations with folding wings for carrier storage, shorter and more rugged landing gear, an arresting hook, cut-down or eliminated ventral flight surfaces and six stores pylons with a total load of 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms).[12] The Northrop Grumman RQ-4N was announced the BAMS winner.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates two maritime variants of the MQ-9, known as Guardians.[47] The U.S. Coast Guard is evaluating the Guardian, including performing joint operations with CBP.[76]

MQ-9 Block 1-Plus

On 24 May 2012, General Atomics conducted the successful first flight of its upgraded MQ-9 Block 1-plus Reaper. The Block 1-plus was designed for increased electrical power, secure communications, auto land, increased Gross Takeoff Weight (GTOW), weapons growth, and streamlined payload integration capabilities. Featuring a new high-capacity starter generator, the aircraft offers an increase in electrical power capacity over the current Block 1 design. This increased power provides the aircraft with significant capacity for growth. The upgraded electrical system includes a backup generator which is sufficient to support all flight critical functions. This vastly improves the reliability of the electrical power system by providing three independent power sources. New communications capabilities will be available, including dual ARC-210 VHF/UHF radios with wingtip antennas, allowing for simultaneous communications between multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground parties; secure data links; and an increased data transmission capacity. The new trailing arm main landing gear will be included, enabling the aircraft to carry heavier payloads or additional fuel. Development and testing were completed, and Milestone C was achieved in September 2012.[77] Follow-on aircraft were to be redesignated MQ-9 Block 5.[78]

Operators

 Italy
 United Kingdom
 United States

Specifications

Honeywell turboprop
MQ-9 Reaper taxiing.

Data from USAF Fact Sheet,[4] Globalsecurity.org[82]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 0 onboard, 2 in ground station
  • Length: 36 ft 1 in (11 m)
  • Wingspan: 65 ft 7 in (20 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
  • Empty weight: 4,901 lb (2,223 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 10,494 lb (4,760 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
  • Payload: 3,800 lb (1,700 kg)
    • Internal: 800 lb (360 kg)
    • External: 3,000 lb (1,400 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop, 900 hp (671 kW) with Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC)[83]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 300 mph (482 km/h, 260 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 194 mph (313 km/h, 169 kn) [84]
  • Range: 1,150 mi (1,850 km, 1,000 nmi)
  • Endurance: 14 hours fully loaded[85]
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
  • Operational altitude: 25,000 ft (7.5 km)[86]

Armament

  • 7 hardpoints
    • Up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) on the two inboard weapons stations[87]
    • Up to 750 lb (340 kg) on the two middle stations[87]
    • Up to 150 lb (68 kg) on the outboard stations[87]
    • Center station not used
  • Up to 14 AGM-114 Hellfire air to ground missiles can be carried or four Hellfire missiles and two 500 lb (230 kg) GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. The 500 lb (230 kg) GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) can also be carried. Testing is underway to support the operation of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile.

Avionics

  • AN/APY-8 Lynx II radar[88]
  • Raytheon SeaVue Marine Search Radar, on the Guardian variants[47]
  • AN/DAS-1 MTS-B Multi-Spectral Targeting System[89]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ Escutia, Sondra (29 October 2009). "4 remotely piloted vehicle squadrons stand up at Holloman". US Air Force. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ^ Peterson, Kyle (16 December 2009). "You say "drone," I say "remotely piloted"". Reuters. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "'Reaper' moniker given to MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle". US Air Force. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "MQ-9 REAPER fact sheet". US Air Force. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. ^ "The Rise Of The Droids". Strategy World. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ^ "MQ-9 Reaper". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ^ Charles J. Hanley. "Unmanned Reapers bound for Iraq, Afghanistan". Air Force Times. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Remarks by Secretary Gates at the United States Air Force Academy". Department of Defense News Transcript. 4 March 2011.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Predator B UAS". General Atomics. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Predator RQ-1 / MQ-1 / MQ-9 Reaper". airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  11. ^ Note: endurance figures vary greatly from source to source. The current figure being publicized by the Air Force is 14 hours.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Greg Goebel (1 March 2010). "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Reaper: A New Way to Wage War". Time: 40. 1 June 2009.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Air Force's hunter-killer UAV now flying in Afghanistan". US Air Force. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  15. ^ Spencer Ackerman (14 December 2010). "Air Force Is Through With Predator Drones". Wired. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  16. ^ SSgt Amy Robinson (11 August 2006). "FAA Authorizes Predators to seek survivors". Air Combat Command Public Affairs.
  17. ^ "Pilotless Robot Bomber Squadron Heads for Afghanistan, Iraq". FOX News. Associated Press. 16 July 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  18. ^ "Reaper scores insurgent kill in Afghanistan". Air Force Times. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  19. ^ Shaun Waterman (5 August 2008). "Bigger, Deadlier Reaper Drone Deployed In Iraq". The Washington Times.
  20. ^ "USAF slammed for pranging Predators on manual". The Register. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  21. ^ Marc V. Schanz (November 2011). "The New Normal for RPAs". airforce-magazine.com. 94 (11): 53.
  22. ^ GA-ASI Introduces New Design on Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Landing Gear - GA-ASI, 9 January 2012
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  • This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the public domain.