The U.S. Marine Corps has recorded over 20,000 flight hours with its MQ-9A medium-altitude, high-endurance unmanned aircraft system.
USMC has received eight MQ-9A UAS from General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business and uses two of the systems in operational missions, the company said Monday.
MQ-9A serves as the service’s Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary or MUX platform. The service expects to receive 12 additional drones to meet its goal of having three squadrons in place by 2025.
GA-ASI President David Alexander said USMC’s acquisition of MQ-9A reflects its commitment to building up its aerial surveillance capabilities.
USMC expects to run a fleet of MQ-9A Extended Range systems equipped with new landing gear, wing-borne fuel pods, full-motion video, moving target indicator/maritime mode radar and a synthetic aperture radar to provide long-endurance surveillance and situational awareness capabilities.
