![]() And the remote nature of these operations means specialized expertise can be dropped into any Reaper cockpit at a moment’s notice. Rotating aircraft into and out of position means that our special operators can have literally nonstop overwatch. An MQ-9 pilot and sensor operator can be located anywhere in the world, meaning that scheduled shift changes provide fresh crews regularly over multi-hour missions. Remote operations also give combatant commanders great flexibility in terms of how they both employ and deploy these aircraft. The MQ-9′s versatility, moreover, enables it to be quickly integrated into a broader battle network to support air, naval or conventional ground forces, providing additional options for our combatant commanders. Here again, the persistence and capabilities of the MQ-9 make it ideally suited for this mission. ![]() It is, by very definition, a force multiplier.Įffective armed overwatch will not only continue to be critical to the democratic world’s fight against extremist groups, it will also be a key instrument for operations in the “gray zones” of great power competition. Medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft such as the MQ-9 can integrate into broader battle networks and return full-motion video, sensor data and other insights to higher headquarters or other units instantly, while simultaneously providing tactical overwatch - and, if necessary, kinetic effects - to troops in action. military as a whole, which suffers in every combat theater from a lack of necessary ISR assets. The MQ-9 delivers time and again.Īdding more MQ-9s to the SOCOM arsenal isn’t just good for the operators on the ground, but for the U.S. They need endurance, and they need reliability. Special operations forces working with partners on the ground need dedicated support from above: Eyes helping them see what’s over the ridge or around the corner connectivity so they can remain in touch and the ability to quickly and precisely place ordnance on target. That means no need for a costly, complex new program aimed at developing a separate, less capable Armed Overwatch aircraft that must rely on aerial refueling and a bit of luck to guarantee success.īecause it is a remotely piloted aircraft, moreover, there’s no need to risk crewmembers by putting them in harm’s way above operations that can shift from low-intensity to high-intensity in an instant. ![]() The MQ-9 is a well-established, existing line of aircraft. Their utility and reliability grows with each new upgrade and modification, ensuring they’ll continue to be lethal and relevant for many years more. and allied forces around the world, the aircraft proved themselves long ago. With nearly 7 million hours in operation, most of them in combat supporting U.S. The MQ-9 is tailor-made for SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch role. What is an MQ-9 Reaper drone The MQ-9 Reaper drone, which crashed into the Black Sea after encountering a Russian jet, is an unmanned high-altitude surveillance vehicle. ![]()
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