The Royal Netherlands Air Drive (RNLAF) will double the variety of MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Plane they are going to procure, taking the entire order from 4 to eight plane. The primary 4 MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers and related Floor Management Stations have been delivered to the RNLAF in 2022. MQ-9A is designed and developed by Basic Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI).
“We’re doubling the variety of MQ-9A Reapers so we are able to improve our maritime and overland intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance (ISR) capability,” mentioned Lieutenant-Colonel Jan Ruedisueli, commander of the RNLAF’s 306 squadron that function the brand new MQ-9A Reapers. “The MQ-9As will obtain exterior pods for Digital Intelligence, a communications relay, a Maritime Radar, and likewise be armed sooner or later.”
The supply of the MQ-9As, their Floor Management Stations, and assist tools is a part of a USAF International Army Sale to the RNLAF.
“We’re thrilled that the primary set of Dutch Reapers have made such a constructive influence on the RNLAF,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “With this new set of capabilities, the Netherlands could have probably the most succesful set of MQ-9 Block 5 plane on the planet. They’ve custom-made the Dutch MQ-9As to fulfill the Netherlands’ increasing mission set.”
MQ-9A Block 5 has endurance of as much as 27 hours, is able to speeds as much as 240 KTAS and may function as much as 40,000 toes. It has a 3,850-pound (1,746-kilogram) payload capability that features 3,000 kilos (1,361 kilograms) of exterior shops. It gives a long-endurance, persistent surveillance functionality with Full-Movement Video and Artificial Aperture Radar/Transferring Goal Indicator/Maritime Radar. A particularly dependable plane, MQ-9A Block 5 is provided with a fault-tolerant flight management system and triple redundant avionics system structure. It’s engineered to fulfill and exceed manned plane reliability requirements.
