Netherlands to buy MQ-9 Reaper drones from US

Europe, News, US August 30, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) plans to double the number of its MQ-9 Reaper drones by buying and adding four more UAVs to the existing fleet. The Dutch government is also set to acquire bombs and missiles for the drones.

The Netherlands started a government-funded project to acquire military drones nearly a decade ago. The first order of 5 MQ-9 drones was made in 2018. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the security dynamics of Europe have changed significantly as almost all European and NATO member states have increased their defense spending exponentially.

The first deal between the Netherlands and the U.S.-based defense manufacturer, General Atomics, was concluded in 2022 when the RNLAF received five MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper drones along with ground control units. The initial batch of drones was acquired for surveillance and reconnaissance missions; hence the Dutch government did not buy bombs and missiles to go with the drones.

Earlier this week, the Netherlands’ Defense Secretary Christophe van der Maat wrote a letter to the Dutch parliament highlighting the need for armed drones. He said that the “threat picture has changed considerably” in recent times. He said that “the aircraft must now be able to protect the safety of its own troops.”

The Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to upgrade its existing fleet of combat drones with GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles. The missiles can also be integrated with AH-64 helicopters operated by the RNLAF.

The Netherlands will buy the drones and missiles from the U.S. through its Foreign Military Sales program and the project is expected to cost somewhere around $300 million. The aim is to have the first ammunition ready for initial deployment by 2025 so it can fully deploy in 2028.

MQ-9 Reaper drone

Built by the U.S.-based General Dynamics, the MQ-9 Reaper is an advanced long-range, high-altitude surveillance and attack drone. At the time of its induction in 2006, Reaper was the first of its kind hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for long endurance and high-altitude target recognition. It has a large wingspan and long body that allows extended endurance and the ability to carry high volumes of ordnance payload and even cruise missiles.

MQ-9 Reaper has a maximum speed of 480 kilometers per hour and a cruising speed of 300 kilometers per hour. An MQ-9 Reaper drone can carry up to eight laser-guided missiles under its wings.

The United States Air Force (USAF) used different variants of the Reaper drones in Afghanistan and Iraq to carry out precise strategic attacks. Different variants of the Reaper drones are also used by militaries in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia.