The French Ministry of Defense said the first system of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles have been delivered to the French air force and deployed to West Africa’s Sahel region.
The Reaper, formerly named Predator B, is produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
(GA ASI).
The MQ-9 Reaper is a latest generation MALE UAV that uses the most advanced technologies available on the market both for air vehicles and onboard sensors. By using optical and radar sensors to effect real-time monitoring, the range and endurance of the Reapers will allow them to operate throughout the Sahel-Saharan strip. Although the Reaper is capable of carrying weapons, France chose not to arm it.
Photo: U.S. Air Force
A Reaper system consists of two unmanned aircraft and a ground control station. Traveling to Niger Jan. 1, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was able to inspect their installation before the detachment becomes fully operational in January.
The arrival of this first UAV system is a result of the priority given to intelligence in the White Paper on Defense and National Security that was approved by the French President April 2013. The 2014-2019 military program law provides for the purchase of four UAV systems, for a total of 12 unmanned aircraft.
They will complement the Harfang drones that are already operating in various theaters. Harfang drones, remote-controlled, medium altitude long endurance UAVs, are produced by Airbus Group and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Decided by the Minister of Defense, this acquisition is intended to make up for the delay in drone capabilities that France had accumulated in recent years.
It was in August 2013 that the U.S. administration gave its consent, allowing France to begin the process of acquiring of two MALE Reaper drones. Since then, the first six pilots and sensor operators have been trained.
The acquisition reinforces significant French intelligence capabilities in this region of Africa. These drones will provide surveillance and control over large areas and intelligence against terrorist formations.
German and Italian partners have flown over 15,000 flight hours with their MALE UAVs and the British 50,000 hours. This European operational experience will be used within a European MALE UAV users’ group, whose establishment was decided at the last European Council in December 2013. Europeans have also decided to jointly begin initial work that could lead to a future European UAV.