"MQ-9 will not pass the air defense of Russia and China": the US Air Force refuses to purchase the UAV Reaper

In the United States, a fight is flaring up with the leadership of the country's Air Force in connection with its intention to curtail purchases drones MQ-9 Reaper.

Our current fleet of MQ-9s is sufficient to meet current and future operational and training needs. No need to buy more drones

- noted the Acting Minister of the Air Force John Roth, indicating that his department intends to look for a replacement for the "Reapers".

The basis for this decision was the Air Force's conclusions about the unsuitability of the Reaper UAV for close combat with a developed enemy. Instead of releasing new MQ-9s, officials are asking for $ 172 million to begin closure of the General Atomics production line in California.

Currently, there are over 300 units. Reaper. At the same time, the Air Force claims that they will not be able to fight Russian and Chinese threats. The funds allocated to finance the acquisition of obsolete UAVs are proposed to be used to create a new platform.

They are not particularly useful against Russia, China, or even the dense air defense systems of Iran and North Korea: they will not be able to pass them. Invest in intelligence and surveillance systems that do have penetration capabilities

- explained Army General Mark Millie, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, who oversees US operations in the Middle East as head of US Central Command, said in April that the MQ-9 was "not viable" against high-profile opponents.

The Air Force has given up on developing a successor for the MQ-9 Reaper since the MQ-X program was phased out in 2012. But in 2020, the department returned to consideration of this issue, announcing its intention to replace the "Reaper" in the 2030s.

The Air Force is considering a replacement for the MQ-9 as a family of UAVs that will operate over a wide range in terms of cost and [combat] capabilities.

- indicated in the publication Defense News.

At the same time, General Atomics, the manufacturer of the MQ-9, believes that the old drones have great potential for modernization and should not be abruptly abandoned:

It is the perfect platform for experimentation.

Comments

[Palestinian]

money laundered and that's it ..... business then))))

[OgnennyiKotik]

The MQ-9 was not designed to break through air defense. He is primarily a scout with various means of electronic warfare, OLS, RTR, radar, etc. Strike missions are secondary, only with the conquered air supremacy. About 300 MQ-9s in the Air Force, about 150 MQ-1Cs in the army are more than enough for a decade to come. They are still in the ILC and the Navy, besides.
New reactive attack UAVs are being created. Here they are for gaining air superiority and breaking through air defense.
To maintain the relevance of the MQ-1/9, drones are created that are launched from and controlled by these platforms.

[Marachuh]

Why not make cruise missiles launched by cruise missiles.

[Karpov Ruslan]

Laughed heartily!) And so that the cruise missile launched by the cruise missile also launched a cruise missile!))))) And that, in turn, also launched a cruise missile, well, probably already - a mini cruise missile))) In general, fire, you need make flying nesting dolls))))))

[Kuroneko]

Quote: Karpov Ruslan

you need to make flying nesting dolls))))))

In the domestic (forgive me, my God) cinematography, they have long been there.
Still from the film "Draft":

[lucul]

New jet attack UAVs are being created

It is written in black and white - UAVs are not effective against the developed air defense of Russia.
Do you not trust the qualifications of amers? )))

[voyaka uh]

You read the article inattentively:
"Funds allocated to finance the acquisition obsolete UAV, it is proposed to send to creation of a new platforms. "
Not UAVs outdated (they, on the contrary, at the very beginning of their careers) - outdated Reaper

[lucul]

Not UAVs outdated (they, on the contrary, at the very beginning of their careers) - outdated Reaper

So the Reaper is one of the most technical UAVs, there is nothing more technologically advanced, the Americans only propose to create more technological ones in the future .... in twenty years.
)))

[voyaka uh]

A new generation of large reconnaissance and strike UAVs will
reactive and stealth. What the Reaper lacks to go through dense AA defenses.
For example:

[lopvlad]

Quote: voyaka uh

A new generation of large reconnaissance and strike UAVs will
reactive and stealth. What the Reaper lacks to go through dense AA defenses.

Already at the moment, the destruction of large jet reconnaissance and strike UAVs built using Stealth technology is not difficult for Russia. And the Americans, when designing their weapons, are primarily guided by the confrontation with Russia, as well as when we design our own, we take into account how effective this weapon will be against the army NATO led by the United States.

[voyaka uh]

"large jet reconnaissance and strike UAVs built using stealth technology" ///
---
They are not yet available. Prototypes only.
When the serial ones appear, we will see the appearance of new air defense systems.
Russia. New modifications of Thors, Buks with other radar models and
other missiles. There is still time for development.

[lopvlad]

Quote: voyaka uh

They are not yet available. Prototypes only.

the same F-117 if you throw the pilot out of it and there is the same

Quote: voyaka uh

"large jet reconnaissance and strike UAVs built using stealth technology" ///

.
Or do you believe in the fairy tale about invisibility? And that very dense air defense will help a large drone to overcome only a huge hypersonic speed.
And against these hypothetical hypersonic drones, hypothetical because at the moment the United States does not have hypersonic technologies, it will be necessary to develop new missiles and modifications of the Torah, Bukov. shot down earlier by complexes S-300B4, S-350, S-400).

The idea of ​​breaking through enemy air defenses with the help of a swarm of micro drones dropped from an aircraft near the air border of Russia can still be discussed somehow, but the breakthrough of an echeloned enemy air defense on a drone the size of a serial fighter, even on supersonic, is outright stupidity. that the drone should be the size of a transport vehicle, but it must be made using the Stealth technology, because this very word "stealth" makes everything that comes to hand invisible.

[voyaka uh]

"enemy on a drone the size of a serial fighter" ///
---
In radar, the physical dimensions of the device do not matter.

The huge B-2 bomber looks hundreds of times smaller on the radar screens,
than the small F-16 fighter.

[sivuch]

Do you at least specify - in cm and dm locations. In meter and, moreover, decameter - the size is very important.

[Nikolaevich I]

Loyal Wingman, of course, "promises" to be a "good", scout-drummer "... And stealth, of course," Oh, yes! "... But the jet ... They may not always be better! Propeller-driven UAVs have one plus ... longer duration of stay in the air ... in certain conditions, better "observation" ...

[Viktor Sergeev]

You still have not understood the main message: new UAVs will be much more expensive and you can steal more from them. What kind of breakthrough in the air defense of a country with 1500 warheads can we talk about? The Americans know that for modern wars and Raptors behind the eyes, but new orders are needed. The same story with the F22, 35, they are needed only to steal money, and the F16,15,18 and A10 will fight.

[keeper03]

Information war !

[lopvlad]

They are not particularly useful against Russia, China, or even the dense air defense systems of Iran and North Korea: they will not be able to pass them. Invest in intelligence and surveillance systems that do have penetration capabilities

quite adequate opinion. And then witnesses of a sect of similar drones made in Turkey running around with slogans "Bayraktar will break everyone up"

[Rageee]

Not all of them, of course, but the "saint" Bayraktar did not perform his tasks very badly ...
inflicted sensitive losses on Assad's troops, and also made a significant contribution to the destruction of Armenian armored vehicles and infantry.

[lopvlad]

Quote: Rageee

but the "saint" Bayraktar performed his tasks very well

in one year in Syria and Libya lost more than 20 pieces worth more than $ 4 million apiece.

[Retvizan 8]

"They are not particularly useful against Russia" ...
Quiet you, do not yell!
Before it's too late, these drones can be snatched by the allies, Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, etc.

[Rageee]

Well, in such a way, one can say that the technique that Russia invaded Armenia was not particularly useful against Azerbaijan))
the omnipotent rab and the Torahs could not suppress the use of Turkish and Israeli UAVs snatched into Azerbaijan

[Maikcg]

Did Armenia really fight? Here's the miraculous news from an alternate reality.

[Mouse]

officials ask for $ 172 million to start production line closure

Nice ... and then they will convince you that the production line is needed like air and ask for three times more?

[OgnennyiKotik]

There is an error in the article. This is compensation for the refusal to buy the US Air Force MQ-9. In addition to them, there are foreign orders, the ILC and the Navy. The production line itself will operate for many years to come.

[Mouse]

So believe the media after this .....

[isv000]

Oops! The DPRK is now a high-class adversary - as soon as the Yankees were sent along the forest road, and that's it! - you are in trend!

[Crabong]

Are they cutting costs? Something looks like ... Now in the army, then in the navy, then in the Air Force, something is being cut ...

[A. Privalov]

The basis for this decision was the Air Force's conclusions about the unsuitability of the Reaper UAV for close combat with a developed enemy.

This is either a bad translation or some kind of nonsense.
When was this MQ-9 being prepared for close combat?
A strange article, without a named source of information.

April 27 "Тhedrive.com"

The United States Marine Corps says it has begun the process of decommissioning all of its RQ-21 Blackjack drones as he shifts his focus to other unmanned platforms including the MQ-9 Reaper and V-Bat ... The decision, which is part of a radical initiative to restructure the military, was made despite the fact that the RQ-21s are relatively young and programs are underway to enhance their sensory capabilities.

April 27 "Тhedrive.com"

The US Air Force has begun modernizing its MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet. The drone, successfully used in the fight against insurgents, is vulnerable to air defense and electronic warfare systems of more equipped opponents, Flight Global reports. The device will receive a modular design and new weapons.

The US Air Force on Wednesday announced the placement of the first order for the modernization of the MQ-9 for "Multi-Domain Operation" (M2DO). The M2DO version will allow these drones to remain relevant until the end of MQ-9 service, scheduled for 2035.

MQ-9 M2DO will receive "additional features" that will allow you to maintain control of the drone in flight. Probably, we are talking about additional containers that will help withstand interference from electronic warfare.

Also, the upgraded MQ-9 will receive an on-board network of increased power, and an open architecture. This will make it possible to quickly adapt the platform for new types of payloads. The new weapons will complement the upgraded sighting system with IR and electro-optical channel, which will allow the use of new high-precision weapons. All this will allow the MQ-9 to remain relevant until the creation of a new MQ-Next UAV, which is at an early stage of development.

Then the meaning of the article is completely opposite.

[lucul]

This is either a bad translation or some kind of nonsense.
When was this MQ-9 being prepared for close combat?

It meant direct contact with the enemy)))

[A. Privalov]

Quote: lucul

It meant direct contact with the enemy)))

In close combat, against an infantryman armed with a sapper shovel, the "Reaper" will not survive.

[lucul]

In close combat, against an infantryman armed with a sapper shovel, the "Reaper" will not survive.

Russian is not native or what? ))))
It meant direct contact of the Reaper with the enemy's air defense zone, or a meeting with an enemy aircraft in the air.
But in your head, close combat is a fight only with the help of sapper shovels in the trench)))

[A. Privalov]

Quote: lucul

Russian is not native or what? ))))

Slushi, you guessed it, eh?

Quote: lucul

direct contact with the enemy's air defense zone, or a meeting with an enemy aircraft.

It's time to abandon all UAVs. No one will survive such a meeting.
For this, modernization is being undertaken, orders have already been placed.
Another 15 years "Reaper" to work, no less.

[lucul]

It's time to abandon all UAVs. No one will survive such a meeting.

Consumable material.

For this, modernization is being undertaken, orders have already been placed.
Another 15 years "Reaper" to work, no less.

With his level of technology, the wunderwaffe did not work)))) We must wait for a new leap in technology)))
But the Reaper was created as invisible for air defense)))

[A. Privalov]

Quote: lucul

MQ-9

The MQ-9 was designed as a modular reconnaissance and strike UAV. Point.

Wunderwaffle / not wunderwaffle, worked / failed ...
He has been serving for 14 years. Produced more than 270 units, is in service with the armies of five countries.
To this day, the Russian Federation does not have anything even close in class to this device.
So, an attempt to postebatsya is not credited.

Apparently, you cannot say anything intelligible on the topic of the article. So, I dare not delay any longer.

[Sergey Aleksandrovich]

That is, you are seriously going to provide some kind of effective attack on a glider during the Second World War against the air defense of Russia? Do you seriously think that there will be nothing to detect and bring down?
Or has the success of Mathias Rust overshadowed everything for you, and you expect to be repeated?
I hasten to disappoint you, such drones will shoot down unmanned missiles and shells, and much cheaper.

[lucul]

Apparently, you cannot say anything intelligible on the topic of the article. So, I dare not detain any longer

As a true liberal - when there is nothing to cover, declares the opponent incompetent))))

[Alexander Seklitsky]

Well, we have no aircraft carriers, for example. But this does not mean that we are behind, it means that it is not very relevant for us.

[Lisiy Prapor]

Quote: lucul

But the Reaper was created as invisible for air defense

Screw "invisible"? Tell us. about the laws of physics of your universe.

[lucul]

Screw "invisible"? Tell us. about the laws of physics of your universe

Uh-huh, from radio-transparent composites, no?

[tralflot1832]

On which side were the United States, when UAVs were massively used in Idlib, and Armenia Azerbaijan? What made such a strange decision? Or the Greek C 300 does not let the Reaper pass from all angles. Where did they test the Reapers on a layered air defense system? Everyone is cutting down everywhere, really " The Death Star "are going to build. It is not good!

[rocket757]

The Air Force is considering a replacement for the MQ-9 as a family of UAVs that will operate over a wide range in terms of cost and [combat] capabilities.

... And sho is not so? Flight commanders know better .....

[Warhead-xnumx]

When will unmanned tanks appear? Why are they worse than planes?

[Puppeteer 111]

How I like to compare the information that comes here with the original source)))

[orionvitt]

The MQ-9 is "not viable" against high-profile opponents.

Which I have always stated. However, there are still a lot of experts on the forum who literally pray for "drones are our everything", "drones are our future" and other garbage. Citing bayraktars in armenia as an example, comparing the air defense of some unknown person with the air defense of Russia.

[Incvizitor]

Let them buy from the Turks the best in the world, though against popuas without air defense standards of an echeloned system.

[amr]

Quote: lucul

As a true liberal - when there is nothing to cover, declares the opponent incompetent))))

I, as a person from the outside, re-read your skirmish ... I do not know, liberal Privalov, a Jew, a Zionist, a puppet of American imperialism, but he answers reasonably, on the merits and on the topic, and apparently he understands it. You are so talking nonsense to listen to you, at the end you are still trying to make him look like an idiot)))
... even recently it turns into a bazaar