They can spend more than 24 hours in the air looking for valuable targets to attack. They fly at altitudes beyond most anti-aircraft systems. The MQ-9A Reaper drones gained fame and designation on missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, where they proved their deadly effectiveness. Since 2022 they have been utilized by the Polish Army.
MQ-9A Reaper is an unmanned MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) class, 1 that is adapted for long-term flights at average and advanced altitudes. It was constructed after the American Army, having good experience with the RQ-1 Predator, developed in the mid-1990s, had a request to have a device with akin parameters, but could execute not only reconnaissance missions, but besides impact missions.
Tested in combat
Developed in the early 21st century, MQ-9A Reaper (meaning Reaper) met these requirements. A device weighing just over 2,200 kg may have taken more than 1,700 kg of weapons, including 360 kg inside the hull, and the rest, or about 1,400 kg, on knots under wings.
What is very important, awesome for those times the combat capabilities of the drone – due to the fact that its operator could attack the detected targets not only with bombs, but besides with guided rockets, including anti-tank AGM-114 Hellfire (machine could take 8 pieces) – designers combined with very good volatile parameters. Reaper was able to spend more than 27 hours in the air, at the same time reaching a maximum tallness of 15,000 m and amazing, for the then drones driven by a propeller, a velocity of nearly 500 km/h.
The MQ-9A combat sands went on missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, gaining their deadly effectiveness of designation of military and experts from around the world. The UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands decided to acquisition Reapers.
In the Polish sky
In early 2022, the Ministry of Defence reported that it wanted our country to become another user of these unmanned workers. And it should be stressed that this declaration of the MON did not surprise experts. Since 2019, MQ-9A has been stationed in Poland, in the base in Mirosławec. Six years ago, the U.S. government sent them over the Vistula River to strengthen the safety of NATO's east flank against Russia's increasingly aggressive abroad policy as part of the 2nd Branch separated from the 52nd Expeditional Operations Group. And although Polish soldiers did not control them, they could usage the reconnaissance data they collected and learn the tactics of their operations and operations. This had to influence the decision to get Reapers under leasing and then, after any time, buy their successor, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.
A lease agreement from General MQ-9A (it has not been revealed how many flying cameras it will consist of) was signed by the Armed Forces Agency with the company General Atomics – Aeronautic Systems Inc. October 20, 2022.
