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Sizing up US-Made MQ-9 Reaper Drone That India Seeks
Sizing up US-Made MQ-9 Reaper Drone That India Seeks
Sputnik India
The Indian Navy leased two MQ-9A drones for reconnaissance and surveillance in November 2020 following a border standoff with China in the eastern Ladakh region.
2023-06-05T18:46+0530
2023-06-05T18:46+0530
2023-06-05T20:49+0530
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With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to undertake a four-day state visit to the United States on June 21, media reports suggest that the deal for 18 MQ-9 Reaper drones, stuck in the mud for some time, would be on the table.India initially planned to acquire 30 Reaper drones - 10 each for its three services - the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. But the number has reportedly been scaled back to 18 now, with six each for the three forces.The Reaper has multiple models, including one called the Sea-Guardian (MQ-9B), its Naval version, which the Indian Navy has been vying for the last couple of years, to enhance its capabilities, particularly in light of growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean zone.Reaper's Key FeaturesAccording to General T. Michael Moseley, the former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, the Reaper, also known as the Predator B, is the first of its kind as far as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) go.It was developed to assist the US Air Force in carrying out surveillance of high-altitude areas for an extended period, since it can stay in the air for 27 hours.The UAV's operational capability is set to get a boost with General Atomics developing a Predator with an endurance range of 40 hours for the US Marine Corps. The aircraft is scheduled to be inducted into the Corps in late 2023.The defense major further states that the MQ-9 has an operational range of zero to 50,000 feet and can travel at a speed of 240 knots true airspeed (KTAS), which is the speed of a plane connected to the air mass.Powered by a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) engine, the Predator can carry a payload of 1,746 kilograms. Armed with precision-guided Hellfire missiles, it can strike deep into enemy territory, and eliminate high-value targets without involving troops on the ground.According to the American firm, the Reaper has been primarily built to "perform multi-mission Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) over land or sea."What Puts MQ-9 Reaper Among the Deadliest Military Drones?These Predator drones were extensively used in Afghanistan and Iraq during ex-US president George W. Bush's infamous "war on terror" in 2003 following the 9/11 terror attacks.They were aimed at neutralizing anti-US forces and the so-called "terrorists" in the now war-torn nations, though allegations of civilian casualties due to the use of these drones are still haunting the US military leadership.Among some of the alleged high-profile targets killed in Predator/Reaper drone strikes are Daesh* founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and al-Qaida's* military head Muhammad Atef.Iran's highly-respected Gen. Qasem Soleimani was also killed in a targeted US strike using this drone in January 2020.MQ-9 Reaper's Black Sea Plunge Casts Shadow on PredatorOn the morning of 14 March 2023, a US MQ-9 drone plunged into the Black Sea after engaging in sharp maneuvering. Russia's Defense Ministry said the air control of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded the flight of the drone in the region of the Crimean peninsula, towards the Russian border. However, Russian Su-27 fighter jets sent to intercept it did not come into contact with it, nor did they use weapons against it.This incident has put question marks on the efficacy of one of the most important weapons in America's arsenal.What's Russia's Equivalent to Predator Drone?Developed by Russia's Kronstadt Group, the Orion is Moscow's equivalent to the Predator drone. With a flying range of 250 kilometers, the Orion can not only track down enemy aircraft, but destroy them with the help of its advanced avionics and precision munition.* Daesh (also known as IS/ISIS/Islamic State), al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations banned in Russia, India and other states
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Sizing up US-Made MQ-9 Reaper Drone That India Seeks
18:46 05.06.2023 (Updated: 20:49 05.06.2023) The Indian Navy leased two MQ-9A drones for reconnaissance and surveillance in November 2020 following a border standoff with China in the eastern Ladakh region.
With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to undertake a four-day state visit to the United States on June 21, media reports suggest that the deal for 18
MQ-9 Reaper drones, stuck in the mud for some time,
would be on the table.
India initially planned to acquire 30 Reaper drones - 10 each for its three services - the Indian Army, Air Force, and
Navy. But the number has reportedly been scaled back to 18 now, with six each for the three forces.
The Reaper has multiple models, including one called the Sea-Guardian (MQ-9B), its Naval version, which the Indian Navy has been vying for the last couple of years, to enhance its capabilities, particularly in light of growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean zone.
According to General T. Michael Moseley, the former Chief of Staff of the
US Air Force, the Reaper, also known as the
Predator B, is the first of its kind as far as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) go.
It was developed to assist the US Air Force in carrying out
surveillance of high-altitude areas for an extended period, since it can stay in the air for 27 hours.
The UAV's operational capability is set to get a boost with General Atomics developing a Predator with an endurance range of 40 hours for the US Marine Corps. The aircraft is scheduled to be inducted into the Corps in late 2023.
On the other hand, Predator B's manufacturer General Atomics touts it as a UAV with "unmatched flexibility".
The defense major further states that the MQ-9 has an operational range of zero to 50,000 feet and can travel at a speed of 240 knots true airspeed (KTAS), which is the speed of a plane connected to the air mass.
Powered by a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) engine, the Predator can carry a payload of 1,746 kilograms. Armed with precision-guided Hellfire missiles, it can strike deep into enemy territory, and eliminate high-value targets without involving troops on the ground.
According to the American firm, the Reaper has been primarily built to "perform multi-mission Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) over land or sea."
What Puts MQ-9 Reaper Among the Deadliest Military Drones?
These Predator drones were extensively used in Afghanistan and Iraq during ex-US president George W. Bush's infamous "war on terror" in 2003 following the
9/11 terror attacks.
They were aimed at neutralizing anti-US forces and the so-called "terrorists" in the now war-torn nations, though allegations of civilian casualties due to the use of these drones are still haunting the US military leadership.
Among some of the alleged high-profile targets killed in Predator/Reaper drone strikes are Daesh* founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and al-Qaida's* military head Muhammad Atef.
Iran's highly-respected Gen. Qasem Soleimani was also killed in a targeted US strike using this drone in January 2020.
MQ-9 Reaper's Black Sea Plunge Casts Shadow on Predator
On the morning of 14 March 2023, a US MQ-9 drone plunged into the Black Sea after engaging in sharp maneuvering.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the air control of the
Russian Aerospace Forces recorded the flight of the drone in the region of the
Crimean peninsula, towards the Russian border. However, Russian
Su-27 fighter jets sent to intercept it did not come into contact with it, nor did they use weapons against it.
This incident has put question marks on the efficacy of one of the most important weapons in America's arsenal.
What's Russia's Equivalent to Predator Drone?
Developed by Russia's Kronstadt Group, the Orion is Moscow's equivalent to the Predator drone.
The Russian defense firm, Kronstadt, calls the Orion a "long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle", specializing in day-and-night aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
With a flying range of 250 kilometers, the Orion can not only track down enemy aircraft, but destroy them with the help of its advanced avionics and precision munition.
* Daesh (also known as IS/ISIS/Islamic State), al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations banned in Russia, India and other states
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