The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said last week it notified Congress of a potential sale of 16 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and associated parts and training to France worth an estimated $1.5 billion.
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| General Atomics’ MQ-9 Reaper UAV. Photo: Air Force. |
France specifically requested: 16 MQ-9 Reapers; eight mobile ground control stations (MGCS); 48 Honeywell [HON] TPE331-10T turboprop engines (16 installed, 32 spares); 24 satellite earth terminal stations; 40 Ku-band link-airborne communication systems; 40 General Atomics Lynx (exportable) synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) systems; 40 AN/DAS-1 multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS); 40 ground data terminals; 40 ARC-210 radio systems; 40 embedded global positioning system/inertial navigation systems.
The deal is contingent on Congress’ approval. If approved, this will be the first Reapers purchased by France and third international sale. United Kingdom and Italy have each bought six, according to General Atomics, which develops the MQ-9 Reaper.