Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) delivered an MQ-9A Reaper® Unmanned Plane Techniques (UAS) to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The brand new MQ-9A Block 5 Prolonged Vary (ER) UAS was delivered on April 22, 2025, and shall be operated by Marine Operational Check and Analysis Squadron 1 (VMX-1), a USMC operational check squadron primarily based at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona.
The brand new MQ-9A UAS shall be utilized by the USMC to carry out operational checks and evaluations, in addition to create Marine Aviation ways, strategies, and procedures by means of experimentation because the Marines absolutely implement MQ-9A as a crucial a part of the Marine Air-Floor Activity Drive (MAGTF).
“The Marine Corps is constructing out its ISR capabilities with this new plane,” stated GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We’re excited to see what VMX-1 does when it comes to operational check in preparation for pushing new capabilities into the sphere.”
The MQ-9A ER is designed with field-retrofittable capabilities, reminiscent of wing-borne gas pods and bolstered touchdown gear, that reach the plane’s endurance to greater than 30 hours whereas additional rising its operational flexibility. It offers long-endurance, persistent surveillance capabilities, with Full-Movement Video and Artificial Aperture Radar/Transferring Goal Indicator/Maritime Mode Radar. A particularly dependable plane, MQ-9A ER is supplied with a fault-tolerant flight management system and a triple-redundant avionics system structure. It’s engineered to fulfill and exceed manned plane reliability requirements.
So far, GA-ASI has delivered 18 MQ-9A UAS to USMC. The USMC awaits supply of two extra plane by the tip of this yr.
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