MQ-9A Reaper

A turboprop-powered hunter-killer UAV that succeeded the MQ-1 Predator, providing US and allied forces with persistent armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It has been the primary American medium-altitude strike drone in counterterrorism and conventional operations for over a decade.

Max speed

480 km/h

Range

1,850 km

Payload

1,700 kg

💲 Approximate US Air Force unit flyaway cost

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 480 km/h

75th pct in class
Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.: 313 km/h

75th pct in class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 1,850 km

50th pct in class
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 15,240 m

75th pct in class
Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms — higher means longer persistent coverage.: 27 h

63th pct in class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.: 7

67th pct in class
Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.: 1,700 kg

83th pct in class

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 11 m
Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span.: 20.1 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 2,223 kg
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 4,760 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 0

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop
Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.: 1
Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.: 900 hp
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Turboprop, pusher propeller

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: AN/AAS-52 Multi-Spectral Targeting System, Lynx AN/APY-8 SAR radar
Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement.: Ku-band SATCOM, LOS datalink

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $32,000,000

13th pct in class
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 350

50th pct in class
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 15

75th pct in class

Specifications compiled from public General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper has a maximum speed of 480 km/h.

What is the range of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper has a maximum range of 1,850 km.

What is the weapons payload of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper can carry up to 1,700 kg of weapons payload.

How much does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper weigh? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper has a combat weight of 4,760 kg.

How many crew does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper require? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper requires a crew of 0.

What engine does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper use? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper is powered by the Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop.

What is the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper used for? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper is a uav / drone typically used for isr, close air support, deep strike.

How many countries operate the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper is operated by 15 countries.

How much does the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper cost? +

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper has an approximate unit cost of 32,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.