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Spain to buy four MQ-9 Reaper RPAs

25

Nov

This system will enhance national ISR capabilities

MQ-9 Reaper during flight
MQ-9 Reaper during flight

The Spanish Government gave the green light to buy four MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones, as approved by the Council of Ministers in its session held last Friday November 20th .
 

"The first two drones and a portable ground control station will be delivered to the Spanish Air Force in July 2017. The second ground control station will be delivered in October 2018, while the third and fourth Reapers will be transferred in April 2019 and April 2020", official sources reported.
 

The MQ-9 Reaper, manufactured by the US company General Atomics, has a wingspan of 20 meters and 27 hours of continuous operation, is already used in Europe by the UK, France and Italy, and has also been ordered by the Netherlands.
 

The remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) will consist of four MQ-9 Reaper Block V, five electro-optical infra-red sensors, four maritime surveillance capable synthetic aperture radars, two deployable ground control stations and four automatic identification systems (AIS). It will also be provided with a satellite communications terminal, support equipment, ground-based datalink terminals, anti-ice/de-ice capability, as well as a collision prevention system.
 

The missions of Spain's Reapers will include terrestrial and maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition, support to search and rescue operations, electronic warfare, and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) early warning.
 

MQ-9 Reaper's sensors compartment
Reaper's Ground Control Station (GCS)