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Topic:
MQ-9 "Reaper"
Worldwide Operations
Dozens of Reapers have been lost over Iran and Yemen.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft primarily used by the U.S. Air Force for intelligence collection and dynamic strike operations. Capable of staying airborne for over 40 hours, it provides 24/7 global surveillance and precision air support against high-value, fleeting targets. It carries a mix of sensors and weapons up to 3,750 pounds of weapons such as AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, and GBU-54 laser JDAMs.
To replace the attrition airframes lost in the conflict, the USAF is eyeing a follow-on next-generation UAS. AFA recently wrote an article on the subject:https://www.airandspaceforces.com/to-replace-lost-mq-9s-usaf-eyes-next-gen-reaper/
The aircraft is operated by a two-person crew (a pilot and a sensor operator) in a Ground Control Station (GCS) safely located at a home base. Because it uses satellite data links, operators can control the drone and its weapons employment from thousands of miles away, relying on continuous data streams to pass real-time imagery to downrange ground users.
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