https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight
operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily
for the United States Air Force (USAF). The MQ-9 and other UAVs are referred to
as Remotely Piloted Vehicles/Aircraft (RPV/RPA) by the USAF to indicate their
human ground controllers. The MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for
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."
The MQ-9 is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier
General Atomics 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 (compared to the Predator's 115 hp (86 kW) piston engine). The greater
power allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at
about three times the speed of the MQ-1. The aircraft is monitored and
controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS), including weapons
employment.
In 2008, the New York Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing began the transition
from F-16 piloted fighters to MQ-9 Reapers, becoming the first fighter squadron
March 2011, the U.S. Air Force was training more pilots for advanced unmanned
aerial vehicles than for any other single weapons system. The Reaper is also
used by the United States Navy, the CIA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
NASA, and the militaries of several other countries. The USAF plans to keep the
MQ-9 in service into the 2030s.
A typical MQ-9 system consists of multiple aircraft, ground control station,
communications equipment, maintenance spares, and personnel. A military crew
comprises a pilot, sensor operator, and Mission Intelligence Coordinator. The
aircraft is powered by a 950 horsepower (710 kW) turboprop, with a maximum speed
of 3,800 lb (1,700 kg), the MQ-9 can be armed with a variety of weaponry,
including Hellfire missiles and 500-lb laser-guided bomb units. Endurance is 30
hours when conducting ISR missions, which decreases to 23 hours if it is
carrying a full weapon load. The Reaper has a range of 1,000 nmi (1,150 mi;
1,850 km) and an operational altitude of 50,000 ft (15,000 m), which makes it
especially useful for long-term loitering operations, both for surveillance and
support of ground troops.
Role
Unmanned combat aerial 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
Italian Air Force
Number built
163 as of 2014
Program cost
US$11.8 billion
Unit cost
US$16.9 million (flyaway cost, 2013)
Developed from
General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
Developed into
General Atomics Avenger
On 13 September 2009, positive control of an MQ-9 was lost during a combat
mission over Afghanistan, after which the control-less drone started flying
towards the Afghan border with Tajikistan. An F-15E Strike Eagle shot it down
with an AIM-9 missile. It was the first US drone to be destroyed intentionally
by allied forces.
By July 2010, thirty-eight Predators and Reapers had been lost during combat
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, another nine were lost in training missions
in the U.S. In 2010, the USAF conducted over 33,000 close air support missions,
a more-than-20 percent increase compared with 2009. By March 2011, the USAF had
48 Predator and Reaper combat air patrols flying in Iraq and Afghanistan
compared with 18 in 2007.
On 22 October 2013, the USAF's fleets of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs
reached 2,000,000 flight hours. The RPA program began in the mid-1990s, taking
16 years for them to reach 1 million flight hours; the 2 million hour mark was
reached just two and a half years later.
The high demand for UAVs has caused Air Combat Command to increase pilot output
from 188 in 2015 to 300 in 2017 at Holloman.
On 13 November 2015, the Pentagon reported that an MQ-9 had killed ISIL member
Mohammed Emwazi, popularly known as "Jihadi John," who was responsible for
executing several Western prisoners.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: 0 onboard, 2 in ground station
Length: 36 ft 1 in (11 m)
Wingspan: 65 ft 7 in (20 m)
Height: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 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)
Electronic Engine Control (DEEC)
Performance
Maximum speed: 300 mph; 260 kn (482 km/h)
Cruise speed: 194 mph; 169 kn (313 km/h)
Range: 1,151 mi; 1,852 km (1,000 nmi)
Endurance: 14 hours fully loaded
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
Operational altitude: 25,000 ft (7.5 km)
Armament
7 hardpoints
Up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) on the two inboard weapons stations
Up to 750 lb (340 kg) on the two middle stations
Up to 150 lb (68 kg) on the outboard stations
Center station not used
Up to 4 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. In March 2014, MBDA successfully test fired a dual mode Brimstone
missile from a Reaper aircraft on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence and Royal
Air Force.
Avionics
AN/DAS-1 MTS-B Multi-Spectral Targeting System
AN/APY-8 Lynx II radar
Raytheon SeaVue Marine Search Radar (Guardian variants)
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