Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 2: Modern UAVs
MQ-9
RQ/MQ-8
CQ-10
Copyright © 2004-2007 Andreas Parsch

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B)

The Predator B is a larger and more powerful derivative of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.'s (GA-ASI) successful RQ/MQ-1 Predator multi-mission UAV. Development was begun as a private venture in 1998, but was eventually funded by NASA. The first flight of the prototype occurred in February 2001.

Photo: General Atomics
Predator B (YMQ-9A)


The Predator B is essentially a scaled-up derivative of the RQ/MQ-1 Predator, the major difference in layout being the more conventional upward V-tail. GA-ASI has flown Predator B prototypes with two different powerplants, the first one with a Honeywell TPE-331-10T turboprop and the second one with a Williams FJ44-2A turbofan. The basic equipment suite of the Predator B is similar to that of the RQ/MQ-1 Predator, and the primary mission equipment consists of a Raytheon AN/AAS-52(V) MTS (Multi-Spectral Targeting System) EO/IR sensor turret/laser designator and a General Atomics AN/APY-8 Lynx SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar). The Predator B can also be used as an armed multi-mission UAV, launching AGM-114C/K Hellfire missiles and other guided weapons. The Predator B is compatible with the ground-based communications equipment of the MQ-1B Predator system, so that it can supplement and/or replace the latter relatively seamlessly.

Photo: General Atomics
Predator B (YMQ-9A)


After the U.S. Air Force had successfully "weaponized" its RQ-1 Predator, it became interested in the more powerful Predator B. In February 2003, the designation MQ-9A was allocated to the turboprop-powered variant of the Predator B (the USAF was not interested in the turbofan version), and later that year two YMQ-9A prototypes were purchased. These aircraft are being evaluated by the Air Force, and at least four additional more airframes have been delivered so far. Current orders cover at least 20 MQ-9 aircraft, and the planned total production is 60 airframes. The YMQ-9A has significantly higher performance than the original Predator. It has a mission endurance of 24 hours at a maximum altitude of 13700 m (45000 ft), and GA-ASI claims a total endurance of up to 30 hours. In 2006, the USAF assigned the official "popular name" Reaper to the MQ-9 UAV.

Photo: Kaston/Skyshadow
YMQ-9A


Note: Frequently the designation MQ-9B is mentioned for the Predator B (or its projected production version). However, this designation is not yet allocated to any Predator B variant.

Photo: Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr., USAF
MQ-9A


Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for YMQ-9A:

Length10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
Wingspan20.12 m (66 ft 0 in)
Height3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Weightmax: 4540 kg (10000 lb); empty: 1380 kg (3050 lb)
Speed> 405 km/h (220 knots)
Ceiling15200 m (50000 ft)
Endurance> 24 h
PropulsionHoneywell TPE-331-10T turboprop; 670 kW (900 shp)

Main Sources

[1] Tom Kaminski: "The Future is Here", article in Combat Aircraft Vol. 4, No. 6, 2003
[2] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records
[3] "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap, 2005-2030", Office of the Secretary of Defense, August 2005


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 2





Last Updated: 12 May 2007