MQ-9 Reaper

Developed by the United States, and operated by the U.S. and U.K., the MQ-9 Reaper is medium-to-high altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. It can be used both as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform as well as a "hunter-killer" for armed reconnaissance. The Royal Air Force tends to emphasize the former and the USAF the latter, but the same aircraft does both.

It is a larger descendant of the MQ-1 Predator.

It can be taken apart, put into shipping containers, and carried by a C-130 Hercules or larger aircraft.

MQ-9 on ground

General Characteristics

• Primary Function: Unmanned hunter/killer weapon system, using GOLIS and laser-guided weapons
  • Secondary function: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
• Contractor: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
• Power Plant: Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine
• Thrust: 900 shaft horsepower maximum
• Wingspan: 66 feet (20.1 meters)
• Length: 36 feet (11 meters)
• Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters)
• Weight: 4,900 pounds (2,223 kilograms) empty
• Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 pounds (4,760 kilograms)
• Fuel Capacity: 4,000 pounds (602 gallons)
• Payload: 3,750 pounds (1,701 kilograms)
• Speed: cruise speed around 230 miles per hour, (200 knots)
• Range: 3,682 miles (3,200 nautical miles)
• Ceiling: up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
• Crew (remote): Two (pilot and sensor operator)
• Unit Cost: $53.5 million (includes four aircraft with sensors) (fiscal 2006 dollars)
• Initial operating capability: October 2007

Sensors

For direct viewing, it has an infrared sensor, a colur/monochrome daylight TV and an image-intensified TV. These can be ysed separate video streams or fused with the IR sensor video.

The Reaper has a combined laser rangefinder/laser designator. For JDAM, it will have synthetic aperture radar.

Weapons

• AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
• GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs
• GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions