An armed U. S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle crashed while flying a combat mission over northern Syria on July 5. USAF...
An armed U. S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle crashed while flying a combat mission over northern Syria on July 5.
USAF says the Reaper crashed when positive control of the aircraft was lost and was not due to enemy fire.
The wreckage was later destroyed by coalition aircraft so as to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
There are no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property at the crash site. An investigation board will convene to determine the specific cause of the crash.
The Reaper is larger and more heavily-armed version of the MQ-1 Predator. It can be armed with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in its four under wing pylons.
In its secondary role as an ISR asset, the MQ-9 can support strike aircraft and ground commanders by acquiring and tracking dynamic targets or other useful intelligence.
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc built Reaper is powered by a single Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine rated at 900 shaft horsepower.
It has a wingspan of 66 feet (20.1 meters), length of 36 feet (11 meters) and weighs a maximum of 4,760 kilograms at take off.
Its cruise speed is around 230 mph (200 knots) with a range of 1,150 miles (1,000 nautical miles) and operation ceiling of up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
The type has been frequently involved in crashes during combat missions over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
USAF says the Reaper crashed when positive control of the aircraft was lost and was not due to enemy fire.
The wreckage was later destroyed by coalition aircraft so as to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
The Reaper is larger and more heavily-armed version of the MQ-1 Predator. It can be armed with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in its four under wing pylons.
In its secondary role as an ISR asset, the MQ-9 can support strike aircraft and ground commanders by acquiring and tracking dynamic targets or other useful intelligence.
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc built Reaper is powered by a single Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine rated at 900 shaft horsepower.
It has a wingspan of 66 feet (20.1 meters), length of 36 feet (11 meters) and weighs a maximum of 4,760 kilograms at take off.
Its cruise speed is around 230 mph (200 knots) with a range of 1,150 miles (1,000 nautical miles) and operation ceiling of up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
The type has been frequently involved in crashes during combat missions over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
