The Italian Air Force (ItAF) has ordered two additional MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).
The two aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, increasing the size of the Italian Air Force’s MQ-9A fleet. The purchase is being made through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the U.S. Air Force and also includes Ground Control Stations.
“Italy has been a very important partner for GA-ASI for more than 20 years,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
He noted that the Italian Air Force has continued to play a leading role in using the MQ-9A for a range of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, across the Mediterranean and in support of NATO operations.
MQ-9A Block 5 Capabilities
The MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper has an endurance of up to 26 hours and can operate at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet (13,716 metres).
The aircraft has a total payload capacity of 4,600 pounds (2,087 kg), including up to 3,750 pounds (1,701 kg) of external stores.
The MQ-9A Block 5 provides long-endurance and persistent surveillance capabilities. Its systems include Full-Motion Video (FMV), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Moving Target Indicator (MTI) and Maritime Radar.
The aircraft also features automatic take-off and landing capabilities.
According to GA-ASI, the MQ-9A Block 5 incorporates a fault-tolerant flight control system and a triple-redundant avionics architecture. The remotely piloted aircraft has been designed to meet and exceed reliability standards associated with manned aircraft.
