MQ-9 Reaper

MQ-9 Reaper (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – UAV) – 74

Manufacturer: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

First flight: 2 February 2001

Introduction: 1 May 2007

Number built: 104

Program cost: $11.8 billion

Unit cost: $16.9 million (flyaway cost, 2013)

Developed from: General Atomics MQ-1 Predator

Developed into: General Atomics Avenger

Crew: 0 onboard, 2 in ground station

Length: 11 m

Wingspan: 20 m

Height: 3.81 m

Empty weight: 2,223 kg

Max takeoff weight: 4,760 kg

Fuel capacity: 1,800 kg

Payload: 1,700 kg

Internal: 360 kg

External: 1,400 kg

Powerplant: 1× Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop, 900 hp (671 kW) with Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC)

Performance

Maximum speed: 482 km/h

Cruising speed: 313 km/h

Range: 1,852 km

Endurance: 14 hours fully loaded

Service ceiling: 15,240 m

Operational altitude: 7.5 km

Armament

7 hardpoints

Up to 680 kg on the two inboard weapons stations

Up to 340 kg on the two middle stations

Up to 68 kg on the outboard stations

Center station not used

Up to 4 AGM-114 Hellfire air to ground missiles can be carried or 4 Hellfire missiles and 2 230 kg GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. The 230 kg GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) can also be carried. Testing is underway to support the operation of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile.

Avionics

AN/APY-8 Lynx II radar

Raytheon SeaVue Marine Search Radar, on the Guardian variants

AN/DAS-1 MTS-B Multi-Spectral Targeting System

By October 2007, the U.S. Air Force owned nine Reapers, and by December 2010 owned 57 with plans to buy another 272, for a total buy of 329 Reapers