General Atomics has been awarded a $400 million contract to provide MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles for the US Air Force, according to the US Department of Defence's press release on Tuesday. The MQ-9 Reaper is the primary offensive strike drone for the USAF.
Reapers equipped with new GPS-maneuvered joint direct attack munition GBU-38 bombs become operational for the first time earlier this month. Already equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, The Reaper gained new global positioning system capabilities with the addition of GBU-38.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)