No longer the one that before: why MQ-9 Reaper lags behind new UAV models and becomes more vulnerable to air defense

Today, MQ-9 Reaper is increasing behind new models of drones and is becoming more vulnerable to land air defense. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper-the first shock-reconnaissance UAV designed to perform both high-rise reconnaissance flights and accurate strokes. The MQ-9 incredible for its time first climbed into the air in 2001 and was adopted in 2007.

Larger, faster and better armed than GA MQ-1 Predator drone, Reaper is a mature stage in the development of impact UAVs and is capable of performing long-term missions, remote aiming at the target and serious intelligence operations. However, MQ-9 is only a transitional stage to more sophisticated UAV systems that will be designed to work in a fully autonomous mode and/or in stealth mode. The Reaper system loses its relevance, especially because it is designed to counteract outdated air defense.

Able to conduct both intelligence and shock operations, Reaper can be equipped with a amount of load depending on the mission requirements. Reaper's standard load capacity is more than 1. 7 tons. As weapons drone can carry up to four AGM-114 hellfire rockets and two 226-kilogram bombs GBU-12 Paveway II with laser guidance. Its touch equipment contains electro -optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, multi -mode radar Lynx, sea surveillance radars, radio intelligence (ESM) and laser targets.

Reaper communication equipment is represented by C-Band Line-Off-Sight (Los_ and Ku-Band Beyond Line-Off-Sight (Blos) Satcom for remote control. The wings of the Reaper is more Planning coefficient. Range (ER). The attraction of weight is only about 0. 07. And for endurance and efficiency, and the ratio of thrust to weight 0. 07 more than these requirements.