MQ-9

MQ-9 is a procurement program under the Air Force's Aircraft Procurement budget activity. The specific goal of this program is to acquire and sustain the MQ-9 Reaper aircraft system, which includes the aircraft, sensors, Ground Control Station (GCS), communications equipment, weapon kits, support equipment, simulator and training devices, technical data/training, and personnel required to operate, maintain, and sustain the system. The program aims to support the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) operational experimentation by procuring MQ-9B Aircraft. Additionally, the program seeks to address enterprise and production Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues through Life Of Type Buys (LOTB) and may include quantities beyond established production levels as risk mitigation.

The MQ-9 procurement program is designed to provide critical emerging Time-Sensitive-Targets (TST) capabilities through Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition (ISR TA). It also aims to enhance the platform's Multi-Domain Operation (M2DO) configuration with projects such as Anti-Jam Global Positioning System, Enhanced Power, Link 16, Open Mission System/Stellar Relay, enhanced data processing, and Command and Control Resiliency. The program is intended to be modular and open-ended to allow for mission-specific equipment configurations based on warfighter necessity and available funding. The procurement of MQ-9s is sole-sourced with General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Incorporated (GA-ASI), Raytheon Company for the DAS-4 EO/IR sensor, and L3 Communications for the operator simulator and satellite communication infrastructure components.