The MQ-9 Reaper anchors the legacy-prime, AI-augmented corner of DEPLOY's drone coverage, the operator-supervision contrast to the new-defense AI-first triangle (Anduril Ghost-X, Helsing HX-2, Shield AI V-BAT) whose autonomy is onboard and verified-fielded.
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It has been in service since May 2007 across the US DoD and allied air forces; the MQ-9A line closed production in 2025 while the MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian is in production, operated by the UK as Protector RG Mk1.
Price
No reviewed price is on record. We do not treat unverified analyst estimates as pricing data. There is no consumer price. The MQ-9 Reaper is defense procurement equipment sold to the US DoD and allied air forces on contract, so DEPLOY records zero price points rather than a consumer figure.
Availability
Internal use only
The MQ-9 is sold to defense customers, not consumers. From General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, it has been in service since May 2007 across the US DoD and allied air forces (UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and others); the MQ-9A line closed production in 2025 while the MQ-9B is in production.
Real-world status
The MQ-9 Reaper 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 (in service since 2007) is remotely-piloted, 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 and a 3,800-pound payload; the MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian adds 40-plus hours and civil-airspace integration (the UK operates it as Protector RG Mk1). 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. This operator-supervision is the editorial spine that separates it from the onboard-autonomy new-defense cohort.
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The MQ-9 is AI-augmented, not autonomous: a crew of three (pilot, sensor operator, mission intelligence coordinator) flies it from a ground control station, with AI handling sensor fusion, ISR processing, and targeting assistance. Do not read 'drone' as 'autonomous'.
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There is no consumer price. The MQ-9 is defense procurement equipment sold on contract, so DEPLOY records zero price points.
Defense drones: operator-supervised vs autonomous
MQ-9 Reaper
Bayraktar TB2
Anduril Ghost-X
Autonomy
Remotely-piloted
🟢verified
Remotely-piloted (auto flight phases)
🟢verified
Verified-autonomous (Lattice)
🟢verified
Role
MALE ISR / strike
🟢verified
MALE armed UAV
🟢verified
VTOL ISR small UAS
🟢verified
Maker
General Atomics (US)
🟢verified
Baykar (Turkey)
🟢verified
Anduril (US)
🟢verified
Generation
Legacy-prime (2007)
🟢verified
Legacy-prime (2014)
🟢verified
New-defense AI-first
🟢verified
Pricing
No consumer price
⊘absence
No consumer price
⊘absence
No consumer price
⊘absence
Sources: DEPLOY registry, General Atomics, US DoD, Anduril
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MQ-9 Reaper autonomous?
No, it is remotely-piloted🟢verified: a crew of three flies it from a ground control station. AI augments ISR, sensor fusion, and targeting; it does not execute missions autonomously.
Can I buy an MQ-9 Reaper?
No⊘absence. It is defense procurement equipment sold to the US DoD and allied air forces on contract; there is no consumer price.
Does the MQ-9 have a crew?
Yes, a crew of three🟢verified: a pilot, a sensor operator, and a mission intelligence coordinator, all at a ground control station.
What is the MQ-9B?
The successor line (SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian) with 40-plus hours and civil-airspace integration🟢verified; the UK operates it as Protector RG Mk1. The MQ-9A line closed production in 2025.
How does the MQ-9 compare to Anduril's Ghost?
Both are defense drones, but the MQ-9 is remotely-piloted (operator-supervised)🟢verified, while Anduril's Ghost-X runs verified onboard autonomy (Lattice). That is the operator-supervision-vs-autonomy axis.
Pricing and availability are tagged verified or claimed against primary sources. Manufacturer targets are reported as targets, not prices you can pay today.