DEPLOY

Buying guide

Ghost (Ghost-X) vs MQ-9 Reaper in 2026

Comparing 2 humanoid robots across availability, pricing, capabilities, and verified deployments. Current as of 2026.

Key differences

On DEPLOY's record, MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 versus 2) than Ghost (Ghost-X) as of 2026; DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

  • MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 vs 2).
Attribute
No image on file
Ghost (Ghost-X)View full model page →
MQ-9 Reaper (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems). Image by U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (Wikidata Q816695). Re-hosted on the DEPLOY blob store from the Commons original.
MQ-9 ReaperView full model page →
ManufacturerAnduril IndustriesGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Form factoraerialaerial
Maturityproductionproduction
Autonomy——
Availabilityinternal-onlyenterpriseinternal-onlyenterprise
PriceNot announced$20,000,000-$32,000,000 (actual sale price)
Capability claims——
Brain—
Verified deployments2Anduril Industries, Anduril Industries4
Privacy practices——
Sources on file912

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Ghost (Ghost-X)

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MQ-9 Reaper

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Editorial summaries

Ghost (Ghost-X)

Anduril's Ghost (current Ghost-X variant) is a helicopter-style single-rotor autonomous VTOL small drone for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, redesigned on Ukrainian combat feedback from the 2020 Ghost 4. It carries about 20 to 25 pounds over roughly 75 to 90 minutes and 25 kilometers, runs Anduril's Lattice autonomy, and sits on the Defense Innovation Unit's China-free Blue UAS list.

Its autonomy is verified-substantive, not marketing: Lattice delivers fielded onboard autonomy including radio-silent flight, single-operator multi-drone teaming, and automatic low-battery mission hand-off, and the registry wires Ghost to the Lattice brain (not to Shield AI's Hivemind). The deployment record is strong: a September 2024 US Army Company-Level small-UAS Tranche 1 selection under a $14.417 million ten-year contract, Replicator fielding to Brigade Combat Teams, more than 1,200 unit-hours across thirteen Army units, and combat use in Ukraine since 2022. It is defense procurement equipment sold on contract; there is no consumer price.

MQ-9 Reaper

The MQ-9 Reaper, from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is the canonical legacy-prime medium-altitude long-endurance drone and the AI-augmented-not-autonomous contrast to the new-defense AI-first triangle. The MQ-9A (first flight 2001, in service since May 2007) is a remotely-piloted aircraft flown by a crew of three (pilot, sensor operator, mission intelligence coordinator) from a ground control station, with about 30 hours of ISR or 23 hours of armed endurance, a 3,800-pound payload, and AGM-114 Hellfire and GBU-12/38 munitions; the MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian adds 40-plus hours and civil-airspace integration (the UK operates it as Protector RG Mk1).

It is fielded across the US DoD and allied air forces; the MQ-9A line closed production in 2025 while the MQ-9B is in production. Its AI is augmentation, not autonomy: sensor fusion, ISR processing, and targeting assistance run while a human crew flies the aircraft and makes mission decisions. It is defense procurement equipment; there is no consumer price.

Common questions

How do Ghost (Ghost-X) and MQ-9 Reaper differ?
On DEPLOY's record, MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 versus 2) than Ghost (Ghost-X) as of 2026; DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source. MQ-9 Reaper has more verified real-world deployments (4 vs 2).
What is the difference between Ghost (Ghost-X) and MQ-9 Reaper?
Ghost (Ghost-X) and MQ-9 Reaper are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. They differ in maker, maturity, price, verified deployments, and how much of their autonomy is independently verified. See the table above for the full head-to-head; each figure is sourced.
Which has more verified deployments, Ghost (Ghost-X) or MQ-9 Reaper?
MQ-9 Reaper has more verified deployments (4) on the DEPLOY registry than Ghost (Ghost-X) (2). DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

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All dronesRegistry Every verified record in the category.Ghost (Ghost-X)Model The full model page.MQ-9 ReaperModel The full model page.Anduril IndustriesRecord The maker's verified record.Anduril LatticeBrain The AI system behind it.General Atomics Aeronautical SystemsRecord The maker's verified record.

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