MQ-9 Reaper
unmanned reconnaissance and strike aircraft built by General Atomics
Key facts
- Type
- Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
- National origin
- United States
- Manufacturer
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- Status
- In service
- Primary users
- United States Air Force U.S. Customs and Border Protection Italian Air Force Royal Air Force
- Number built
- 575 as of 2026
- Introduction date
- 1 May 2007
- First flight
- 2 February 2001 ; 25 years ago ( 2001-02-02 )
- Developed from
- General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
- Developed into
- General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger General Atomics Mojave
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, one component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS)) 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 ground control by humans.
The MQ-9 is a larger, heavier, more capable aircraft than the earlier General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and can be controlled by the same ground systems. 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.
Gallery (12)
Connections
Categories
2000s United States attack aircraft2000s United States military reconnaissance aircraftAirborne military robotsAircraft first flown in 2001Aircraft specs templates using more performance parameterElectronic countermeasuresGeneral Atomics aircraftMilitary technologySignals intelligenceSingle-engined pusher aircraftSingle-engined turboprop aircraft