Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

Extended Range MQ-9 Reaper Takes Flight!

March 5, 2016 Extended Range MQ-9 Reaper Takes Flight!
FighterSweep Staff No Comments Drones

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Air Force’s most sought-after Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in recent years has been the MQ-9 Reaper. The airframe has been an absolute workhouse, and the operators have been asking for ways to extend its legs and keep it on station for a really long time. General Atomics answered, and the long-winged Reaper has officially arrived.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, [25 February 2016] announced the successful first flight of Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper® Extended Range (ER) Long Wing, retrofitted with improved long-endurance wings with greater internal fuel capacity and additional hard points for carrying external stores. The flight occurred on February 18 at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Test Facility in Palmdale, Calif., on a test aircraft.

“Predator B ER’s new 79-foot wing span not only boosts the RPA’s endurance and range, but also serves as proof-of-concept for the next-generation Predator B aircraft that will be designed for Type-Certification and airspace integration,” said Linden Blue, CEO. “The wing was designed to conform to STANAG 4671 [NATO Airworthiness Standard for RPA systems], and includes lightning and bird strike protection, non-destructive testing, and advanced composite and adhesive materials for extreme environments.”

During the flight, Predator B ER Long Wing demonstrated its ability to launch, climb to 7,500 feet (initial flight test altitude), complete basic airworthiness maneuvers, and land without incident. A subsequent test program will be conducted to verify full operational capability.

Predator B Extended Range during a recent test-flight. (Photo courtesy of General Atomics)

Predator B Extended Range during a recent test-flight. (Photo courtesy of General Atomics)

Developed on Internal Research and Development (IRAD) funds, the new wing span is 13-feet longer, increasing the aircraft’s endurance from 27 hours to over 40 hours. Additional improvements include short-field takeoff and landing performance and spoilers on the wings which enable precision automatic landings. The wings also have provisions for leading-edge  de-ice and integrated low- and high-band RF antennas. An earlier version of Predator B ER featuring two wing-mounted fuel tanks is currently operational with the U.S. Air Force as MQ-9 Reaper ER.

The original press release from General Atomics can be viewed here.

(Featured photo courtesy of General Atomics)

 

Related Posts

  • Watch: Airmen from the 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit assemble a Reaper drone in full MOPP gearWatch: Airmen from the 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit assemble a Reaper drone in full MOPP gear
  • Watch: MQ-9 Reaper Drone Drops 1st GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack MunitionWatch: MQ-9 Reaper Drone Drops 1st GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition
  • Italy Agrees To U.S. Drone Strikes Over LibyaItaly Agrees To U.S. Drone Strikes Over Libya
  • Why Are The Drones Crashing So Often?Why Are The Drones Crashing So Often?
  • U.S. Army Requests Small-Sized DroneU.S. Army Requests Small-Sized Drone

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • blue-angels-reporter-blacks-out-passes-out
    December 5, 2017

    Watch: News Reporter Blacks Out on Ride with US Navy Blue Angels

  • September 4, 2019

    Photo Gallery: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

  • Whistling Death: How The Corsair Got Its Nickname
    August 30, 2019

    Whistling Death: How the Corsair got its nickname

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • pak152 " the team came up with what the Brits dubbed as Mustang, powered by a [...]
  • P K Polish AF never has and never will operate Su-27, An-26 aircraft has been out [...]
  • bnarfhyde The best book is also great. have a [...]
  • TerrorTrike ive never survived this long with such a clumsy FL- cG.866B.CO/NC6155hc
  • D4rksupeme yessss truck kunnnnnnnn i needddd you m.866E.CO/vC6155H

© Copyright 2023 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...