U.S. Marine Corps Expands Arsenal with Two MQ-9A Reaper Drones
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) finalized the handover of two MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the U.S. Marine Corps on October 15, 2021. These two drones have been utilized by the USMC since 2018 under a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) leasing arrangement to fulfill an Urgent Operational Requirement. The Reapers signify the inaugural phase of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Expeditionary (MUX) Program of Record (POR). This aircraft transfer comprises two Ground Control Stations and related support apparatus.
The two COCO MQ-9As have been in service managed from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, as part of a leasing contract between GA-ASI and Naval Air Systems Command, amassing over 12,000 flight hours aiding operations in the Middle East while refining the specifications and expectations for the MUX POR. The MUX POR will encompass an additional 16 new MQ-9As, which the Marine Corps is set to start acquiring in 2022 to bolster an Early Operational Capability in 2023 and an Initial Operating Capability in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) by 2025.
“The Marine Corps effectively utilized the leased drones to better comprehend and define the necessities of the MUX initiative, while concurrently aiding the forward-deployed combat personnel,” remarked GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “It serves as an excellent illustration of how a customer can ‘try before you purchase’ our aircraft. They have experienced firsthand how a continuous ISR platform, such as the MQ-9A, can fulfill the Marine Corps’ requirement for extensive range sensing in the Pacific as part of the Commandant’s Force Design Strategy.”
With unparalleled operational versatility, the MQ-9A Block 5 boasts an endurance of over 26 hours, speeds of 220 KTAS and can ascend to altitudes of 45,000 feet. It has a payload capacity of 3,850 pounds (1,746 kilograms), accommodating 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of external stores. It offers a long-endurance, persistent reconnaissance capability equipped with Full-Motion Video and Synthetic Aperture Radar. An incredibly dependable aircraft, the MQ-9A Block 5 is furnished with a fault-tolerant flight control system and a tri-redundant avionics architecture. It is designed to adhere to and surpass the reliability benchmarks set for manned aircraft.
