The MQ-9 Reaper has increasingly fallen behind newer drone variants—and grown more susceptible to anti-air efforts from the ground.
The GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is the first hunter-killer UAV designed to complete both high-altitude surveillance and precision strikes. A creature of the modern age, the MQ-9 first flew in 2001 and was first adopted in 2007. Bigger, faster, and more heavily armed than the GA MQ-1 Predator drone, the Reaper represents the mature phase of armed drone development and is capable of conducting long-duration missions, remote targeting, and powerful surveillance operations.
Still, the MQ-9 is merely a bridge to more advanced drone systems, like those that will be designed to operate with fully autonomy and/or with stealth characteristics. The system is already becoming obsolete—particularly given its tendency to struggle against outdated air defense systems.
The MQ-9 Reaper’s Specifications
Capable of conducting both surveillance and strike operations, the Reaper’s payload can be adjusted based upon the needs of the day’s mission. The Reaper’s standard payload capacity is 3,800 pounds. For weaponry, the drone can handle up to four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and two 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. For sensory equipment, it can handle electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, Lynx multi-mode radars, maritime surveillance radars, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), and laser designators. For communications equipment, the Reaper can carry C-Band Line-of-Sight (LOS_ and Ku-Band Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) SATCOM links for remote operations.
The Reaper’s wingspan measures 66 feet, while the length measures 36 feet. This ratio is typical of many surveillance drones, allowing for greater fuel efficiency and a high glide ratio. For comparison’s sake, the F-22 Raptor has a wingspan of only 44 feet and a length of 62 feet; its glide ratio is also substantially lower than the Reaper’s.
The Reaper’s maximum takeoff weight is 10,500 pounds, while the fuel capacity is 3,900 pounds. The fuel capacity enables an endurance time of 27 hours, or up to 40 hours in the Extended Range (ER) variants. The Reaper is slow relative to most modern military aircraft, with a top speed of only 240 knots.
For propulsion, the Reaper relies upon one Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine. The engine provides just 900 horsepower, good for about 700 pounds of thrust. This is quite low for a 10,500-pound aircraft, making the thrust-to-weight ratio only about 0.07. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, by comparison, has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.0, which permits a perfectly vertical climb trajectory. The Reaper, by contrast, cannot change altitudes quickly in either direction; its enormous wingspan limits its maneuverability. Fundamentally, however, this is irrelevant; the drone was not built for performance or for agility, but for endurance and efficiency, a profile that the 0.07 thrust-to-weight ratio more than accomplishes.
The Reaper Is More and More Vulnerable
The MQ-9 Reaper has increasingly fallen behind newer drone variants, however—and grown more susceptible to anti-air efforts from the ground. Most notably, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels successfully shot down multiple Reapers using surface-to-air (SAM) missiles during President Donald Trump’s aerial campaign against the group. The consistent ability of the relatively unsophisticated Houthis to shoot down the Reaper showcases the drone’s growing vulnerability in contested environments. Accordingly, the United States is already working on a Next-Generation Multi-Role UAS—also known as the “MQ-Next”—which will replace the Reaper and, in theory, provide America with a drone option capable of operating in contested airspace.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / BlueBarronPhoto.
