General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper

Lore & Background

The MQ-9 Reaper originated from the General Atomics Predator B-001 proof-of-concept aircraft, which first flew on 2 February 2001. Designed by Abraham Karem, the B-001 was powered by an AlliedSignal Garrett TPE331-10T turboprop engine and featured an enlarged fuselage and wings lengthened from 48 feet to 66 feet. The design evolved in two directions: a jet-powered version (Predator B-002) with a Williams FJ44-2A turbofan, and a larger airframe variant (Predator B-003, called Altair) with an 84-foot wingspan and a takeoff weight of approximately 7,000 lb. The USAF ordered two aircraft for evaluation in October 2001, designated YMQ-9s, delivered in 2002, and initially referred to the aircraft as Predator B before renaming it Reaper.

The MQ-9 is monitored and controlled by aircrew in a Ground Control Station, including weapons employment. It is fitted with six stores pylons capable of carrying a variety of weapons such as the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder, GBU-38 JDAM, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. The aircraft's onboard camera has been claimed to read a license plate from 2 miles away, with operator commands taking 1.2 seconds to reach the drone via satellite link. By October 2007, the USAF owned nine Reapers, and by December 2010 had 57, with plans to buy another 272 for a total of 329. The total program quantity is set at 433, including Foreign Military Sales.

Reader's Guide

The MQ-9 Reaper represents a significant shift in aerial warfare, moving from UAVs used primarily in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles to a true hunter-killer capability, as stated by USAF Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley in 2006. Its greater power and payload capacity compared to the MQ-1 Predator allow it to carry 15 times more ordnance and cruise at three times the speed, enabling deadly persistence over combat areas. The aircraft is operated by crews stationed at bases such as Creech Air Force Base, who can hunt for targets using multiple sensors including thermographic cameras. The USAF has operated over 300 MQ-9 Reapers, with 2035 projected as the end of the fleet's service life. The aircraft has been further developed into the MQ-9B, marketed as SkyGuardian or SeaGuardian depending on mission and payload. The Reaper has also been used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the militaries of several other countries, and has been tested for electronic warfare and ballistic missile defense roles, including integration with the ADM-160 MALD and MTS-C sensor for tracking cold bodies after booster burnout.

Did You Know?

• The MQ-9 Reaper was originally called Predator B before being renamed Reaper by the USAF.
• The aircraft can carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at about three times the speed of the MQ-1 Predator.
• The B-001 prototype first flew on 2 February 2001 and was designed by Abraham Karem.
• The MQ-9 has been tested for electronic warfare and ballistic missile defense, including using its MTS-B sensor for launch-on-remote capabilities.