USAF Reaper drones will get a big update to deal with new type of threat
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.
The MQ-9 ‘Reaper’ is a fixed-wing AI-powered drone that was designed to deal with what the USAF calls Counter-Violent Extremist Organization (C-VEO) combat situations. However, things are changing and the Air Force sees a different growing need for its unmanned drone fleet, one that revolves not around extremists but rather ‘near-peer’ threats.
US Air Force
The US Air Force is seeking upgrades to its fleet of MQ-9 Reaper drones as its mission shifts from anti-extremist operations to dealing with near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. Through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office, the increased capabilities will be installed in both new Reapers and those already in service.
Since it first flew in February 2001, the capabilities of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper in its many variants have been improved, allowing it to take on more ambitious missions. Currently, it is operated by the United States and six other countries, and has seen action in many theaters around the world, but it s in danger of soon becoming irrelevant.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office is moving forward with several fleet enhancement capabilities aimed at increasing the MQ-9 Reaper’s effectiveness against near-peer adversary threats. ,
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