MQ-9 Reapers

• India’s plans to procure General Atomics MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV).
• 31 of armed UAVs will be acquired, among which 15 SeaGuardians will be for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians (eight each) will be for the Indian Army and Air Force.

ABOUT REAPER DRONE

• The Reaper drone is deployed mainly as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets.
• Decoding the MQ-9 Reaper, the ‘M’ is the DoD designation for multi-role, the ‘Q’ stands for remotely piloted aircraft system, and the ‘9’ suggests that it is the ninth in the series.
• The drone provides capability to launch strike and reconnaissance against time-sensitive targets.
• The MQ-9 can perform numerous missions including surveillance, combat search and rescue, intelligence, precision strike and terminal air guidance.
• The baseline system of the drone has the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS-B) which harbours an infrared sensor, shortwave infrared camera, laser designator, visual sensors for aiming, and laser illuminator.
• The high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) drones are capable of remaining airborne for over 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kg of bombs.
• The drone can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles, Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire which gives low-collateral damage, anti-armour, and anti-personnel engagement capabilities.
• The drone can be disassembled and fit into a single container for deployment.