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☆ Palmer Luckey's start-up Anduril just proved it can challenge legacy defense contractors and win
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Anduril has just been selected as one of two vendors for a major US air force contract. AdvertisementAnduril Industries, the defense tech startup run by Palmer Luckey, has just been awarded a major contract by the US Air Force, beating out legacy names like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Air Force hopes to eventually buy at least 1,000 CAA systems at a cost of $30 million per drone. "I'm confident we're going to deliver on budget and on schedule some really sick AI-powered fighter jets," he added. And the demand is there for them if they can make it: venture capitalists have put more than $100 billion into defense tech since 2021, according to PitchBook data.

Persons: Anduril, Northrup Grumman, Palmer Luckey, —, Lockheed Martin, Atomics, General Atomics Organizations: Boeing, Lockheed, Service, Anduril Industries, US Air Force, Aircraft, Air, Air Force, CAA, Combat Aircraft, CNBC Locations: Anduril, United States of America, …, China, Silicon Valley

☆ Britain's Royal Navy says it did what only the US has until now: flown a large drone off the deck of an aircraft carrier
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Britain's Royal Navy announced it hit a milestone that only the US has managed to achieve so far. It flew a large drone from the deck of the HMS Prince of Wales, the UK's newest aircraft carrier. AdvertisementA large, specially modified drone successfully flew from Britain's newest aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy announced, in a major milestone that only the US had until now managed to achieve. A US Marine Corps test pilot lands an F-35B aboard HMS Prince of Wales in the Western Atlantic on October 11, 2023. The HMS Prince of Wales was commissioned in 2019, two years after the HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is the flagship of Britain's fleet.

Persons: Britain's, HMS, Wales, —, Queen Elizabeth, Prince, James Parkin, HMS Prince, Atomics, Gray Eagle, Adm, Martin Connell, Dane Wiedmann, Queen Elizabeth class, Cmdr, Martin Russell, Elizabeth Organizations: Britain's Royal Navy, Service, Britain's, Royal Navy, US, US Navy, British, Royal, Marine Corps, Atlantic Locations: Virginia, Britain, Wales, British, Prince, HMS Prince

☆ Israel-Hamas war live updates: France's Macron calls for cease-fire; U.S. reportedly discussing pause in fighting with Israel, Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. military MQ-9 drone was shot down on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis, two U.S. officials and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region. Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Hamas war. In a statement, a Houthi military spokesperson said they shot down the drone in airspace over Yemeni territorial waters. Last month, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four cruise missiles and more than a dozen drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen headed toward Israel.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, General Atomics, — Organizations: U.S, Houthis, Pentagon, U.S . Navy Locations: Iran, U.S, Washington, Israel, Yemen, Red

☆ US drone shot down near Yemen -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. military MQ-9 drone was shot down on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis, two U.S. officials and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region. The U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the drone, made by General Atomics, had been brought down off the coast of Yemen. In a statement, a Houthi military spokesperson said they shot down the drone in airspace over Yemeni territorial waters. Last month, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four cruise missiles and more than a dozen drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen headed toward Israel.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, General Atomics, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Chris Reese, Rod Nickel Organizations: Houthis, U.S, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Base Elmendorf, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Washington, Israel, Yemen, Red, Richardson , Alaska

☆ Israel-Hamas war: What are the US MQ-9 Reaper drones that have been flying over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Amari Air Base, Estonia, July 1, 2020. Below is a description of the MQ-9 drone based on information from the Air Force and its maker, General Atomics. The Reaper, which entered service with the U.S. Air Force 16 years ago, can be equipped with weapons such as air-to-ground missiles. MQ-9s have also been bought by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the UK Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force. According the U.S. Air Force, four MQ-9 aircraft with sensors, a ground control station and a satellite link cost about $56.5 million.

Persons: Janis Laizans, Atomics, Amelia Smith, Chris Sanders, Mike Stone, Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S . Air Force, Base, U.S, REUTERS, Reuters, Air Force, WHO, Honeywell, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Estonia, Baltics, Gaza, United States, GAZA, U.S

☆ Mum's the bad word: Most big Menendez donors won't say if they will keep backing New Jersey senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Several top party donors have privately told Menendez's campaign that he should resign, according to a longtime past supporter who spoke with CNBC. The PAC so far has raised approximately $300,000 for Menendez's 2024 reelection campaign, according to its president, Dr. Ben Chouake. NorPAC has donated a combined $15,500 toward the Menendez campaign and separate leadership PAC since 2017, according to OpenSecrets data. Prudential Financial , the large insurer, has donated $35,000 through their PAC toward Menendez's political operation since 2017, according to OpenSecrets. A Prudential spokeswoman declined to comment when asked whether the company's PAC would continue to support Menendez following his indictment.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, NorPAC, Jon Kaiden, Kaiden, Cory Booker of, Ben Chouake, Chouake, We've, Couake, Goldman Sachs, General Atomics, Greenberg Traurig Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, CNBC, Baleon Capital, Menendez, Fund, Senate Foreign Relations, Banking, Finance, Democratic, Senate, Menendez's, PAC, Pfizer, Prudential Financial, Prudential, company's PAC, FEC, Comcast, Merck, Holtec Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, New Jersey, Israel, Manhattan, Cory Booker of New Jersey, OpenSecrets, Jerusalem

Adoption of AeroVironment's Switchblade drone will be a key driver for the company, he said. It is not clear how often the U.S. military has utilized the Switchblade drone in theater. AeroVironment makes the Switchblade 300 and the 600; both are equipped with cameras, navigation systems and guided explosives. The 300 variant is designed to strike small targets, weighs a little more than 5 pounds and has a range of 10 miles. Each single-use Switchblade 300 is estimated to cost $6,000, according to an NBC News report.

Persons: LSEG, Wahid Nawabi, Baird, Peter Arment, AeroVironment, Lockheed Martin, Atomics Organizations: Pentagon, ., Lockheed, Lockheed Martin Hellfire, NBC Locations: Virginia, Tuesday's, Ukraine, U.S

☆ Another one of America's adversaries just unveiled a new drone that closely resembles the US military's combat-proven MQ-9 Reaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Another US foe just revealed a drone that looks very similar to the American MQ-9 Reaper. One of the missiles is named after Qasem Soleimani, the former chief of the IRGC's elite Quds Force who was killed in a 2020 US military Reaper drone strike. AdvertisementAdvertisementWell-armed and tested in combat, the powerful Reaper drone has operational experience around the world. An MQ-9 Reaper drone on San Clemente Island in California on June 23. Iran and North Korea have cooperated in the past on various military issues, including the development of long-range missiles.

Persons: Israel —, —, IRNA, Ebrahim Raisi, Qasem Soleimani, Joseph Pagan Iran's, Kim Jong Un, Vann Van Diepen, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: American, Service, Islamic Republic News Agency, country's, Industry, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, — IRNA News Agency, Islamic, Kremlin, US, US Air National Guard, Staff, North, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, US State Department, Stimson Locations: Iran, Korean, Wall, Silicon, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, American, Russian, Islamic State, Clemente Island, California, North Korea, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow

☆ U.S. announces Taiwan weapons package worth up to $345 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The United States unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million on Friday, a move likely to anger China even as the Biden administration declined to publicly provide details on the arms in the package. Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan, which strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. Taiwan's defense ministry thanked the U.S. for its "firm security commitment," adding in a statement it will not comment on the package details due to the "tacit agreement" between the two sides. Taiwan had previously agreed to purchase four, more advanced, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, made by General Atomics, which are slated for delivery in 2025.

Persons: Biden, General Atomics Organizations: United, Reuters, U.S . Air Force Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Beijing

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The United States unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million on Friday, a move likely to anger China even as the Biden administration declined to publicly provide details on the arms in the package. Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan, which strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has increased military pressure on the island over the past three years. Earlier this month, the top U.S. general said the United States and its allies need to speed up the delivery of weapons to Taiwan in the coming years to help the island defend itself.

Persons: Biden, General Atomics, Defense Lloyd Austin, Mike Stone, Idrees Ali, Jasper Ward, Dan Whitcomb, Yimou Lee, Richard Chang, Muralikumar Organizations: United, Reuters, U.S . Air Force, Defense, Presidential, Authority, Thomson Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Ukraine

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan in the 2023 budget. One official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said the package is expected to be worth around $330 million. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. Taiwan has said its defense spending this year will focus on preparing weapons and equipment for a "total blockade" by China, including parts for F-16 fighters and replenishing weapons.

Persons: General Atomics, Defense Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Mike Stone, Idrees Ali, Chris Sanders, Deepa Babington, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Congress, U.S . Air Force, Cultural, Defense, Presidential, Authority, U.S . Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Thomson Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, U.S, Ukraine

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan in the 2023 budget. One official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said the package is expected to be worth around $330 million. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. Taiwan has complained of delays to U.S. weapon deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as shipments from U.S. stockpiles moved to Ukraine.

☆ Ambitious plans for US-India technology sharing face hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Standing in the way are strict U.S. rules governing export of defense technology, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs, has stressed the need to break down barriers to technology sharing with allies and partners, including India. But one congressional aide said efforts to speed technology sharing with India would face "an uphill battle" both in the U.S. Congress and at the U.S. State Department, where officials have a specific obligation to protect U.S. technology. "There are concerns about (technology sharing) in the Australia context and there would be more concerns in the India context," he said. Rick Rossow, an India expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said approval processes for advanced defense technology transfer were "onerous but not impossible."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Biden, Ely Ratner, Democrat Mark Warner, Republican John Cornyn, Bill Greenwalt, Greenwalt, ITAR, Rick Rossow, David Brunnstrom, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Deepa Babington Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, United, Indian, General Electric Co, Center, New, New American Security, TECH, U.S . Senate India Caucus, Democrat, Republican, U.S . Congress, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, GE, State Department, U.S . Missile Technology Control, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, India, New Delhi, Asia, U.S, Britain, Australia, New American, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi

Mr. Modi agreed to join Mr. Biden in the East Room to meet with journalists and will also address a joint session of Congress in the afternoon. Image The scene on the South Lawn in the morning underscored the rising role of Indian Americans in the United States. Image Mr. Modi suggested the two nations could tackle international challenges in tandem. They considered it a victory that the administration had persuaded Mr. Modi, who famously refuses to hold news conferences, to meet with reporters alongside Mr. Biden, as most major world leaders do when they visit the White House. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York TimesMr. Biden pointed to the prevalence of Indian Americans in prominent positions.

Persons: Biden, Narendra Modi, Modi, “, ” Mr, ’, Mr, ”, Doug Mills, China’s, Atomics, Biden’s, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, “ Modi, Pete Marovich, Kamala Harris, Harris, Harris’s, Erin Schaff, Joshua Bell Organizations: White, “, New York Times, Artemis Accords, International Space Station, General Electric, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Boeing, Biden, New York Times “ Equity, United States, ”, Cortez of New York, Twitter, The New York Times, Mr, The New York, Penn Masala, University of Pennsylvania, U.S . Marine Locations: India, United States, Russia, China, U.S, Moscow, Beijing, American, Ukraine, Russian, New York Times India, New Delhi, Cortez of New, portobello, Asian

☆ Biden Welcomes Indian Leader With a 21-Gun Salute
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Mujib Mashal | Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Mr. Biden celebrated India’s rise with a lavish display of friendship marked by marching bands, honor guards and a 21-gun salute on the South Lawn, to be followed by an Oval Office meeting and a gala state dinner. Mr. Modi agreed to join Mr. Biden in the East Room to meet with journalists and will also address a joint session of Congress in the afternoon. Image The scene on the South Lawn in the morning underscored the rising role of Indian Americans in the United States. Image Mr. Modi suggested the two nations could tackle international challenges in tandem. Credit... Pete Marovich for The New York TimesMr. Biden pointed to the prevalence of Indian Americans in prominent positions.

☆ Factbox: Flurry of US-India deals on AI, defense as Biden, Modi meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The following is a roundup of the major announcements:VISASThe Biden administration will make it easier for Indians to live and work in the United States. The United States intends to open new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. India is opening a new consulate in Seattle this year and will soon announce two new consulates in the United States. The MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India, a joint statement said, and U.S. manufacturer General Atomics will also establish new facility in India. ADVANCED COMPUTINGIndia and the United States established a Joint Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to facilitate joint research between the public and private sectors across both countries.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Biden, Katherine Tai, Vikram Solar, Electric's, General Atomics, Atomics, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Indian, U.S, The State Department, United, INDIA, Micron Technology, Micron, United States Trade, World Trade Organization, Minerals Security Partnership, European Union, India’s Epsilon Carbon, VSK Energy, JETS, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Indian Air Force, GE Aerospace's, Tejas, GE, Reuters, SPACE, Artemis Accords, NASA, International Space Station, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, U.S, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, India, Seattle, Gujarat, US, Colorado, China, SPACE India

☆ Top tech execs get ready to meet Modi as China's economy falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Seema Mody | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters as he arrives at the Lotte New York Palace hotel in New York City, June 20, 2023. As China's economy falters, top U.S. corporate executives are making it a priority to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to the White House, including Thursday's dinner. The administration is going all out to give the prime minister a close-to-royal welcome," Frank Wisner, former U.S. ambassador to India, told CNBC. China is one of the agenda items when Modi meets with Biden and U.S. executives Thursday and Friday. With China's economy decelerating and political tensions high, corporate America has taken steps to diversify away from the country.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Raj Subramaniam, Frank Wisner, Tony Capuano, Cummins, Jennifer Rumsey, Safiya Ghori, Ahmad, Atomics, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Modi, Biden, Wisner, Elon Musk Organizations: Indian, Lotte New, Lotte New York Palace, White, Apple, Microsoft, FedEx, White House, CNBC, Marriott, Electric, Hindustan Aeronautics, Atlantic Council, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S, Modi, Tesla Locations: Lotte New York, New York City, India, New Delhi, U.S, Delhi, China, America

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2021. Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. Though Modi has made several previous visits to the United States, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader. "It’s a milestone in our relationship...It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday. Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Modi, Vinay Kwatra, Kwatra, General, Ely Ratner, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Raja Mohan, Krishn Kaushik, Sarita Chaganti Singh, David Brunnstrom Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, . Congress, JET, General Electric, U.S ., Defense, Pacific Affairs, UN, Asia Society Policy, Rajesh, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, DELHI, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Washington and New Delhi, Pacific . Washington, Russia, New Delhi, Moscow, Ukraine, West, China, Cooperation, New York, U.S, Asia, NEW DELHI

NEW DELHI, June 15 (Reuters) - India's defence ministry has approved the procurement of U.S.-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources told Reuters on Thursday. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion, one of the sources said. India’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The defence ministry's initial clearance for the procurement comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for a state visit to the U.S. next week. The U.S. government approved the sale of 30 drones to India more than two years ago, but the Indian defence ministry had been sitting on the decision.

Persons: General Atomics, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Ajit Doval, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Modi, Lloyd Austin, Krishn Kaushik, Jan Harvey Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Modi, . National, Modi's, Thomson Locations: DELHI, U.S, India, China, Pakistan, New Delhi, Delhi, Russia

India has long expressed interest in buying large armed drones from the United States. U.S. negotiators are counting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's White House visit on June 22 to break the log jam. Modi and Biden are also expected to discuss co-production of munitions and ground vehicles, like armored personnel carriers, while Modi is in Washington, the sources said. The topic was expected to be on the agenda as Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalize preparations ahead of Modi's visit. The Quad grouping of countries - the United States, India, Australia and Japan - all operate, or have operated, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian.

Persons: Narendra Modi's, Biden, General Atomics, Modi, Spokespeople, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Mike Stone, Trevor Hunnicuttt, Krishn Kaushik, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Indian, U.S, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, White, Department of State, Biden, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Washington, New Delhi, U.S, India, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Japan

☆ Rocket maker Firefly buys on-orbit servicing company Spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 8 (Reuters) - Rocket maker Firefly Aerospace, founded by a former SpaceX engineer, said on Thursday it has acquired launch services company Spaceflight Inc in a push to boost its on-orbit servicing capabilities. Firefly is a space transportation company that helps customers such as NASA and General Atomics with launch, lunar and in-space services, while Spaceflight offers servicing for satellites and other spacecraft while in orbit. Demand has also shifted from launching a few satellites on small rockets to launching swarms of satellites at once using bigger rockets such as the ones made by SpaceX. Texas-based Firefly is trying to mass-produce its medium-sized rocket, while developing a larger launcher under a new partnership with Northrop Grumman (NOC.N). Firefly is among a handful of U.S. space companies vying to launch small satellites into space.

Persons: Atomics, Samrhitha, Devika Organizations: Firefly Aerospace, SpaceX, Spaceflight Inc, NASA, Spaceflight, Virgin Orbit, SpaceX ., Northrop Grumman, Industrial Partners, Thomson Locations: U.S, SpaceX . Texas, Bellevue , Washington, Bengaluru

☆ The US Air Force has big plans for the next-generation drones that will fight alongside its fighters and bombers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It's now developing collaborative combat aircraft, which can fight alongside piloted jets or on their own. A need for 'affordable mass'MQ-9s on a runway at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico in April. Worse, the Air Force faces a pilot shortage and its overall number of flight hours has been decreasing. The Air Force also continues to develop top-tier assets like the F-35, the B-21 stealth bomber, and the Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD. "Without it, it's very difficult to envision how we could keep the Air Force at the size it currently is."

☆ Factbox: What is the MQ-9 Reaper drone that collided with a Russian jet?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Below is a description of the MQ-9 "Reaper" drone based on information from the Air Force and its maker, General Atomics. The Reaper, which was delivered to the Air Force 16 years ago, can also be equipped with weapons such as air-to-ground missiles. MQ-9s have also been purchased by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, UK Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force. According to the Air Force, for $56.5 million they can purchase four MQ-9 aircraft with sensors, ground control station and a satellite link. General Atomics says the MQ-9 has "demonstrated an air-to-air weapons capability" in Air Force tests.

☆ Russian jet downs U.S. Reaper drone over Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

General Atomics' Guardian drone, which is the maritime version of the company's Predator B or MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle. WASHINGTON — A Russian fighter jet downed a U.S. drone operating over the Black Sea on Tuesday, U.S. European Command said in a statement. "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," said U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa. Prior to the collision, two Russian aircraft harassed the drone, he said. "Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner," the statement added.

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