 |
TheMQ-9 Reaper is amilitary drone used for manyroles. The drone has acrew of two. Theyremote control it from theground like acivilian drone but with acomputer at aground control base instead of a remote controller. From the terminal one crew member operates thesensors andweapons. The other crewmember is thecommander andpilot of the drone. It has manyvideo cameras and sensors and is able toTakeoff andland on its own. The Reaper is mostly used forreconnaissance. It can also doloitering,close air support along withsearch and rescue. Because of its cameras and sensors the drone is used to point outtargets formilitary vehicles and otheraircraft. It is also used to guardgroups of military vehicles. When used for strike missions the drone is veryaccurate. Up to eightmissiles can be put on the wings. The drone is good atasymmetric warfare because it can wait around a area 24 hours and attack fast. The Reaper was made to be a bigger and more powerful aircraft than thePredator drones.[1]
Who makes it: General Atomics[1]
Unit Cost: $56.5 million (includes four aircraft with sensors, ground control station and Predator Primarysatellite link)[1]
Width: 66 feet (20.1 meters)[1]
Length: 36 feet (11 meters)[1]
Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters)[1]
Weight: 4,900 pounds[1]
Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 pounds[1]
Fuel Capacity: 602 gallons[1]
How much weapons can it carry: 3,750 pounds[1]
How fast: Mach 0.36[1]
How far can it go and still come back: 1,150 miles[1]
How high can it go:50000 feet[1]
Weapons: AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or GBU-12 Paveway II or GBU-38 Joint Direct AttackMunitions or GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II or GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions[1]
Crew (remote): Two (pilot and sensor operator)[1]
