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.

Previous generations

• MQ-9 Reaper on the DEPLOY registry
• MQ-9 Reaper on the DEPLOY registry

The historical entries remain on the registry for reference; current coverage tracks this generation.

Readiness

MQ-9 Reaper is internal use only (not for retail) at $20,000,000-$32,000,000 (actual sale price), no capability claims are on file, 4 verified deployments are on file, and 1 incident is on record.

Availability

internal-only

Internal use only (not for retail).

see evidence →

Price honesty

actual-sale-price

One price on file: $20,000,000-$32,000,000 (actual sale price).

see evidence →

Capability honesty

no-claims

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

see evidence →

Real-world use

production

Maturity: production. 4 verified deployments in the registry.

see evidence →

Safety record

incidents-on-file

1 incident on record across 4 verified deployments.

see evidence →

What it claims to do

No reviewed capability claims on file.

Price

• $20,000,000-$32,000,000actual sale price · actual-sale-price pricing via af.mil (Depth sourcing 2026-07-08) ↗ · as of 2024-01-01

Real-world use

• Creech Air Force Base operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
• Global operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
• United States operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems2007-05-01
• Poway operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems2007-01-01

Safety record

• Russian Su-27 collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea, forcing it down2023-03-14

Privacy

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

Specs

notes

• Verified (legacy prime contrast): 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).
• AI-substance: REMOTELY-PILOTED, NOT autonomous (honest): 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.
• Lifecycle nuance: 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.
• Claimed but NOT verified: 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?

MQ-9 Reaper costs $20,000,000-$32,000,000 one-time (actual sale price).Source: actual-sale-price pricing via af.mil (Depth sourcing 2026-07-08)

Where is the MQ-9 Reaper being used?

MQ-9 Reaper is in use at: Creech Air Force Base operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Global operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, United States operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (2007-05-01), and Poway operated by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (2007-01-01).Source: USAF MQ-9 fact sheet

Is the MQ-9 Reaper safe?

Incidents on record: 1 (1 other). See Russian Su-27 collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea, forcing it down.Source: Russian Su-27 collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea, forcing it down

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 Poway, California, USA.Source: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (575 built; remotely-piloted MALE; in service 2007)

Video

Compare side by side

• MQ-9 Reaper vs Vector (and Trinity)by Quantum Systems · aerial
• MQ-9 Reaper vs Skydio X10by Skydio · aerial
• MQ-9 Reaper vs Parrot ANAFI Aiby Parrot · 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/ ↗
5. actual-sale-price pricing via af.mil (Depth sourcing 2026-07-08) · https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104470/mq-9-reaper/ ↗
6. USAF MQ-9 fact sheet · https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104439/mq-9-reaper/ ↗
7. GA-ASI · https://www.ga-asi.com/ ↗
8. First Block 5 MQ-9 flight June 2017 · https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/1349993/386-aew-completes-first-flight-of-block-5-mq-9/ ↗
9. MQ-9 relocated from UAE to Qatar May 2024 · https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/us-transfers-fighter-jets-armed-drones-from-uae-to-qatar-amid-regional-tensions ↗
10. General Atomics - Wikipedia · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics ↗ · 2007-05-01
11. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems - Wikipedia · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_Aeronautical_Systems ↗