General Atomics Wins $115M for 16 Reaper UAVs

Reaper, (also known as Predator B) an outgrowth of the combat proven Predator A UAS, became operational in 2007 and as it began flying combat missions over Afghanistan. This Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV overcomes most of the difficulties encountered with previous UAVs that commonly must compromise between conflicting demands for payload, speed, altitude, speed and persistence. With an operational ceiling of 50,000ft, and higher cruising speed, Reaper can cover a larger area, under all weather conditions carrying payloads of more than 1.5 tons. The aircraft is powered by a single Honeywell TP331-10 engine, producing 950 shp, provides a maximum airspeed of 260 kts and a cruise speed for maximum endurance of 150-170 kts. (Photo from Defense-Update)

From Defense Technology News:

(NSI News Source Info) Source, US Department of Defense - November 27, 2008: The Air Force is awarding a Firm-Fixed-Price Contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif. Not-to-Exceed $115,158,656.

Read more ....

Air Force Looks To A New Drone To Keep Peace In Iraq

MQ-9 Reaper

From Breitbart:

The US Air Force may turn increasingly to a new armed drone, the MQ-9 Reaper, to help keep the peace in Iraq once the conflict shrinks in scale and US ground troops go home, a top US commander says.

Lieutenant General Gary North, the commander of US air forces in the Middle East, said he is examining options for when and where he can replace manned fighter and bomber aircraft with armed drones.

"Today we are in an environment where we may not need the large number or persistence of manned aircraft," he said in an interview by telephone Friday with AFP from a base in the region.

"We can put unmanned aircraft -- Predator, Reaper, and other assets -- overhead for long endurance periods. We call that persistent stare.

"And with the Reaper, armed with Hellfire and 500-pound precision weapons, we'll be able to have a deadly stare if needed," he said.

The Reaper was deployed in Iraq for the first time July 17 from Balad Air Base, and has been flying in Afghanistan since September.

Read more ....

More News On The Reaper:

Air force looks to a new drone to keep peace in Iraq -- AFP
Air Force flying unmanned MQ-9 Reapers in Iraq -- Stars And Stripes
Trim Reaper: Streamlined Killer Drone Begins Combat Operations in Iraq -- FOX News
Reaper At War -- Strategy Page
Reaper patrols Iraq sky -- Air Force Link
MQ-9 Reaper enhances Air Force capabilities in Iraq -- Press Zoom
Reaper serves as friend to allies, 'Grim Reaper' to foes -- Air Force Material Command

My Comment: 10 years ago this was a concept that was science fiction, in which the only "predators" that we could see were in "Terminator" movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. No more now.

One can only imagine what the skunk works are developing now. I am sure that 10 yeasr from now the Predators and Reapers in the sky will make today's fleet as obsolete as a World War I aircraft.