GA-ASI updates MQ-9A Reaper progress with USMC
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper UAS has flown over 4,800 flight hours of direct support reconnaissance for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) over a 12 month period.
The multi-reconnaissance sensor equipped MQ-9A has provided support to USMC forward operations on the battlefield, and has served as a proof of concept for the Deputy Commandant’s Marine Aviation Plan.
According to GA-ASI, building the Marine Corps’ Group 5 UAS community, this initiative will help inform the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) UAS Expeditionary (MUX) programme while also meeting the 38th Commandant’s Planning Guidance to expand unmanned capabilities.
VMU-1 has been using leased MQ-9A Reaper aircraft under a government owned/government operated (GOGO) contract to fulfil an urgent needs request for persistent ISR in the Afghanistan theatre since September 2018.
The GOGO capability fulfils the commandant’s directive for USMC Group 5 persistent ISR capability with strike and will achieve initial operational capability in 2020. VMU-1 will be the test bed and incubator to provide crucial information, lessons learned, requirements, and tactics, techniques, and procedures that will aid in the USMC efforts for a successful acquisition and fielding of MUX.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.