The US Marine Corps has received its final MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems at the Grey Butte Field Airport in California.

Its delivery marks the conclusion of the corps’ three-year acquisition campaign, one of defense’s efforts to upgrade its capabilities as part of the Force Design 2030 restructuring plan.

The $136-million MQ-9A contract was originally drafted to boost the corps’s operational capability in terms of range and endurance.

Marine Corps Captain Dennis Monagle shared that the MQ-9A fleet will allow the force to “move quickly, stay on schedule, and deliver advanced capability to the fleet with minimal friction.”

The Marines currently have three air stations manning the drones, located in Arizona, Hawaii, and North Carolina

See Full Page