MQ-9 Development and Fielding

Abstract

The basic MQ-9 Reaper system consists of the aircraft, sensors, a ground control station (GCS), communications equipment, weapon kits, support equipment, simulator and training devices, Readiness Spares Packages (RSP), technical data/training, and personnel required to operate, maintain, and sustain the system. The system is designed to be modular and open-ended: mission-specific equipment is employed in a 'plug-and-play' mission kit concept allowing specific aircraft and control station configurations to be tailored to fit mission needs. The MQ-9 Reaper aircraft is a single-engine, turbo-prop remotely piloted aircraft designed to operate over-the-horizon at medium-to-high altitude for long endurance sorties. The aircraft is designed primarily to prosecute critical, emerging Time-Sensitive-Targets (TSTs) as a radar, Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR), and laser designator-based attack asset with on-board hard-kill capability (hunter-killer). It also performs Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition (ISR TA). In the hunter-killer role, the aircraft employs fused multi-spectral sensors to automatically find, fix, and track ground targets (Automatic Target Cueing (ATC), Target Location Accuracy (TLA), Metric Sensor and other capabilities), and assesses post-strike results. The MQ-9 system is continuing development and fields capability through incremental upgrades. Two test aircraft will be purchased in FY10 to support development and test activity. Future developmental capabilities include increasing the maximum gross takeoff weight of the aircraft; automatic takeoff and landing capability (ATLC); enhancing aircraft systems to include integrated redundant avionics; Predator Primary Data Link (PPDL) comm system upgrades and comm upgrades to include data link encryption and Ka frequency migration; anti-ice/de-ice capability; navigation system upgrades; electrical system upgrades; airframe and airframe system improvements; propulsion system improvements; secure voice and data communications, including SATCOM, upgrades; sensor/stores management computer improvement; MIL-STD-1760 advanced weapons data bus; advanced sensor and weapon payloads; improved human-machine interface; integrating precision weapons (e.g. AGM-114 Hellfire missile and GBU-12/38/49 guided bombs); Mode 5 / Automatic Dependent Surveilance - Broadcast (ADS-B) integration; hardware and software upgrades to the ground control station for MQ-9 operations; completing airworthiness certification; weapons system certification and accreditation; and producing applicable training devices that emulate weapon system capabilities. Subsequent investments will continue to evolve the MQ-9's capabilities to meet new operational requirements (e.g. SIGINT, communications, electronic attack (EA), Wide Area Airborne Surveillance (WAAS), and other sensors and weapons) and address reliability, maintainability, sustainability, and safety issues. Activities also include studies and analyses to support both current program planning and execution, and future program planning. The Ground Control Station (GCS) functions as the aircraft cockpit and can control the aircraft either within line-of-sight (LOS) or beyond LOS (BLOS) via a combination of satellite relay and terrestrial communications. The GCS is either mobile to support forward operating locations or fixed at a facility to support Remote Split Operations (RSO). The GCS has the capability to perform mission planning; provides a means for manual control; allows personnel to launch, recover, and monitor aircraft, payloads, and system communications status; incorporates secure data links to send aircraft and payload commands and receive system telemetry and payload data; monitors threats to the aircraft; displays the common operational picture; and provides support functions. Launch and Recovery GCS (LRGCS) allow for servicing, systems checks, maintainance, and launch and recovery of aircraft under LOS control for hand-off to a mobile or fixed facility GCS. Additionally, there is a GCS configuration that allows for control of multiple aircraft and payloads. GCS upgrades will be developed and fielded in coordination with improvements to MQ-9 aircraft capabilities and in response to evolving operational requirements. This program will participate in studies, analyses, development, testing, and implementation of future unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and various standards to pursue joint, Allied, and coalition interoperability. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational Systems Development, because it involves Air Force R&D to field a highly capable operational system and provide essential operational capabilities.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 0205219F_7_3600_PB_2011
• Change Summary Explanation: FY09 funding totals includes $1.0M provided via Omnibus reprogramming. FY10 funding totals include Congressional add of $52.5M and $1.4M appropriated for Overseas Contingency Operations. FY10 increase adds funding to increase development/test capacity and accelerate Block 5 aircraft and Ground Control Station capability development/test.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Accuracy
• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Airframes
• Anti-Tank Missiles
• Communication Systems
• Data Links
• Digital Communications
• Ground Control Stations
• Simulators
• Test And Evaluation
• Training
• Training Devices
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Weapons

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Directed Energy
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
• Space
• Space - Satellites