U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Military
Technology
/ USA
Drone makeover
MQ-9 Reapers gets upgraded
By: Gabriela Ramos
On: 5/8/2021
MQ-9 Reaper
Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The US National Air Guard (ANG) announced the partnership between the 174th Attack Wing and Department of Defense contractors to reform and establish new competencies for the MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Upgrades include improved communications in the airspace, improvements to the battlefield, as well as tracking and identifying targets.
"We are currently conducting an operational assessment of new equipment," said the assistant director of operations for the 174th Attack Wing.
The drone will be equipped with three additional pods: the Freedom Pod, the Centerline Avionics Bay Pod and the Reap Pod, which will serve to improve the aircraft's command and control systems and also facilitate communication with the fourth and fifth generation fighters.
After the upgrade, the aircraft will be tested from May 3 to 14 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
This operation is funded by ANG, and aims to increase the drone's effectiveness against adversary threats.
Gabriela Ramos
Gabriela is the latest addition to the editorial team of our website, having provided us with her solid background in editing, publishing and photography, and her interest and training in aviation history and historiography. His good taste and common sense and great cleverness and sagacity in the selection of themes and materials greatly enriched our vocabulary and narrative style. Gabriela brought unusual predicates and came to stay, helping to point the way of success of our portal.
   
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