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.

Readiness

MQ-9 Reaper is internal use only (not for retail), no capability claims are on file, the model has no verified field deployments in the registry, and no incidents are on record.

Availability

internal-only

Internal use only (not for retail).

see evidence →

Price honesty

no-price

No price points on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

see evidence →

Capability honesty

no-claims

No reviewed capability claims on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

see evidence →

Real-world use

production

Maturity: production. No verified deployments in the registry.

see evidence →

Safety record

no-incidents

No incidents on record. No verified deployments either.

What it claims to do

No reviewed capability claims on file.

Price

No reviewed price points on file.

Real-world use

No verified deployments on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

Safety record

No incidents on record. No verified deployments either, so the absence is uninformative.

Privacy

No privacy practices disclosed or on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

Specs

notes

[{"label":"Verified (legacy prime contrast)","value":"General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI; private, San Diego/Poway CA) is the incumbent MALE remotely-piloted-aircraft prime (Predator lineage). MQ-9A: 575 built as of 2026; USAF ~158 active + 24 ANG (end FY2025); operators incl. UK, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium. USMC received its final MQ-9A Block 5 ER Jun 2025. The canonical legacy contrast to the AI-first new-defense wave (Anduril/Helsing/Shield AI)."},{"label":"AI-substance: REMOTELY-PILOTED, NOT autonomous (honest)","value":"Humans retain flight control and ALL weapons-employment decisions. Auto takeoff/landing + threat detection/tracking are assistance features, not autonomy. The newer Quadratix software (Mar 2025) adds AI/ML/autonomy/data-fusion for single-operator multi-sensor ISR on MQ-9B - AI-ASSISTED ISR, not an autonomous kill chain. Do not let 'drone' imply AI-autonomy here."},{"label":"Lifecycle nuance","value":"The MQ-9A production line CLOSED in 2025 after USAF confirmed no further buys (GA-ASI: fewer than 10 MQ-9As left to sell); MQ-9B is the active in-production successor (UK Protector, Taiwan SkyGuardian due 2026, Germany SeaGuardian buy reported Jan 2026). One Company record spans a mature-but-sunsetting platform + its in-production replacement. lifecycleState=active."},{"label":"Claimed but NOT verified","value":"Exact GA-ASI revenue/headcount/ownership %; MQ-9B AEW&C + long-range standoff-munition (JASSM/LRASM/JSM) integration (announced/planned 2026, not yet demonstrated); Taiwan/Germany MQ-9B deliveries (contracted, pending 2026)."}]

specs

MQ-9A Reaper: MALE remotely-piloted aircraft, first flight Feb 2 2001, in service May 2007; crew = pilot + sensor operator + mission intel coordinator at a ground control station; ~30 hr ISR / ~23 hr armed endurance, 3,800 lb payload, AGM-114 Hellfire + GBU-12/38. MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian: 40+ hr, civil-airspace integration; UK operates as Protector RG Mk1.

formFactor

aerial (medium-altitude long-endurance REMOTELY-PILOTED aircraft; hunter-killer ISR/strike)

What's under the hood

No brain on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MQ-9 Reaper actually available for purchase?

Not available to consumers. In internal use by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.Source: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (575 built; remotely-piloted MALE; in service 2007)

What does the MQ-9 Reaper cost?

Not announced.

Where is the MQ-9 Reaper being used?

No verified field deployments on record.

Is the MQ-9 Reaper safe?

No incidents on record, but with no verified field deployments either, the absence is uninformative.

How does the MQ-9 Reaper handle privacy?

No privacy practices disclosed or on file for MQ-9 Reaper.

Who makes the MQ-9 Reaper?

MQ-9 Reaper is made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, based in San Diego, California, USA.Source: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (575 built; remotely-piloted MALE; in service 2007)

Compared to

• Shield AI V-BATby Shield AI · aerial
• HX-2 (and HF-1)by Helsing · aerial

Sources

1. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (575 built; remotely-piloted MALE; in service 2007) · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper ↗
2. Abrupt end to MQ-9A production surprises General Atomics (line closed 2025) · https://www.airandspaceforces.com/abrupt-end-to-mq-9-production-surprises-general-atomics/ ↗
3. GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian (40+ hr; UK Protector RG Mk1) · https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b-skyguardian ↗
4. GA-ASI Quadratix software (AI/ML/autonomy for MQ-9B ISR; still operator-controlled) · https://www.defenseadvancement.com/feature/quadratix-unified-software-ecosystem-from-general-atomics/ ↗