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| The first
MQ-9 Reaper unmanned
aircraft arrived at Creech Air Force Base, NV this week after
completing flight tests in California. This is the first of
18 aircraft to be operated by the 42 attack squadron from this
base. By May 1, the squadron should transition under the 432nd
Wing, the first wing totally dedicated to Predator and Reaper
operations. According to squadron commander Lt. Colonel Jon
Greene, By 2009, the 42nd Attack Squadron should have 18 Reapers
assigned for training and deployment purposes. The plan is for
the Reapers to deploy by the beginning of summer, said. The
squadron is tasked with the initial training and development
of MQ-9 specific tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) to
be used in the current fight as well as any potential future
conflicts. The first deployment of the MQ-9 is expected in AFghanistan
during the second half of 2007, subsequently it will be fielded
in Iraq, probably with the Predators stationed at Balad airbase,
by late 2007 or early 2008.
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| Seven MQ-9s
are currently in production; In January 2006 General Atomics
was awarded an initial contract for the production of five MQ-9
Reaper air vehicles, scheduled for delivery by March 2008, for
the total amount of $41 million. By March 13 the company received
additional $43 million for the delivery of two MQ-9 unmanned
aerial vehicles, two ground control stations plus mission equipment
and support. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery by December
2008. All aircraft will employ the Multi-Spectral Targeting
System (MTS-B) electro-optical payloads, developed by Raytheon.
A production contract for five systems was awarded to Raytheon
in February, as part of a $70 million MTS
order for 65 systems, destined for the MQ-1
Predator (60 systems) and MQ-9 systems (5).
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