MQ-9 Reaper UAVs

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Defense

Concept :

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. The Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 31 armed MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from General Atomics.

About General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, which is also called Predator B, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
It is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
It has been developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for the United States Air Force (USAF).
As per GA-ASI, the MQ-9 UAV has an endurance of over 27 hours, speeds of 240 KTAS, can operate up to 50,000 feet, and has a 3,850 pound (1,746 kilograms) payload capacity that includes 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of external stores.
The aircraft’s manufacturer also says that it can carry 500 per cent more payload and has nine times the horsepower in comparison to the earlier MQ-1 Predator
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and General Atomics last year announced that the turbo-propeller engines which power the MQ-9 would be supported by HAL’s engine division for the Indian market.

Importance of the deal

MQ-9 UAV provides long-endurance, persistent surveillance, and strike capability for the warfighter.
It will significantly enhance the maritime surveillance capability of the Indian Navy over the Indian Ocean Region.
They will reduce the stress on the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
India is also the first non-treaty partner to be offered a Missile Technology Control Regime Category-1 Unmanned Aerial System – the Sea Guardian UAS manufactured by General Atomics.