New Zealand breaks new ground with first Remus 300 export order
Four Remus 300 UUVs will join a fleet of half a dozen Remus 100s used by the RNZN.
Unmanned Vehicles
Spain receives another pair of Reapers
Spain is the first international customer to acquire the MQ-9A Block 5
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced on 1 December that it has delivered two more MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper UAVs and a ground control station (GCS) to the Spanish Air Force.
Delivery on 23 November, following acceptance tests carried out in the US by General Atomics, completed a 2015 FMS acquisition of four Reapers for ISR missions and three GCSs. The new MQ-9s will be operated by the 233rd Squadron at Talavera la Real Airbase near Badajoz.
Spain is not only the first international customer to acquire the MQ-9A Block 5 but it is also the first country to issue an Airworthiness Military Type Certificate for the aircraft.
‘This measure certifies that the entire system, including the maintenance, is safe for personnel in the air and on the ground,’ General Atomics noted. ‘It is also a key hurdle to clear to operate in national airspace.’
The 233rd Squadron has flown nearly 300 hours with its MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft. The Spanish Air Force ordered four aircraft in 2015 and another two in 2019.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Reapers in Spanish service are equipped with MTS-B EO/IR sensors and the Block 20A Lynx multi-mode radar.
Spain was the fifth European country to order Reaper, preferring it to the Heron TP for commonality with NATO allies (France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US) which also operate the UAV.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Unmanned Vehicles
-
-
USN issues Blackjack and ScanEagle contract modification
Insitu will provide aircraft and services to support the USN and FMS operators of the RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle.
-
IAI completes the largest-ever delivery of VTOL UAVs
BlueBird Aero Systems, partially owned by IAI, completes delivery of 100 VTOL UAVs to an undisclosed European customer.
-
Northrop Grumman carries on with BAMS-D support
Northrop Grumman obtains new Broad Area Maritime Surveillance – Demonstrator contract modification despite USN plans to retire the unmanned aircraft.
-
Boeing completes historic unmanned air-to-air refuelling test
Boeing and the US Navy have demonstrated the first successful test of unmanned air-to-air refuelling.
-
USN awards Knifefish retrofit to General Dynamics
General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded a $72.8million contract by the US Navy to retrofit Knifefish mine countermeasure UUVs.
