WASHINGTON - The United States Air Force (USAF) has announced plans to update its Reaper drones in a way that makes them more capable against ‘near-peer’ threats. The plan comes from the USAF’s Life Cycle Management Center, specifically its MQ-9 Program Office, which explains that the mission behind the drone platform is ‘shifting’ from one aimed at addressing extremist groups to one that may need to address near-peer threats, Brittany A. Roston reports for Slash Gear. Continue reading original article.
The Intelligent Aerospace take:
May 11, 2021 - Some existing MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft will receive a multi-domain operation configuration -- the same that will be on new Reaper UAVs -- covered by an order to Reaper manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway, Calif.
Air Force experts will boost the UAV’s electrical power and to develop an open architecture that will accommodate add new features rapidly intended to deal with new threats as they arrive.
"The MQ-9 enterprise will add new capabilities to the platform to help ensure the MQ-9 is able to support these missions in the threat environment we envision," says Air Force Lt. Col. Nick Jordan, the material leader for the MQ-9 production and retrofit effort.
Related: Northrop Grumman's plan to replace the MQ-9 Reaper with stealthy autonomous drones
Related: Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper replacement requirements now include air-to-air combat capability
Related: Leonardo’s drink-can-sized decoy launched from GA-ASI MQ-9
Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
