A modified MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle successfully tracked a ballistic missile launch during an trilateral exercise in June. The...
A modified MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle successfully tracked a ballistic missile launch during an trilateral exercise in June.
The missile tracking test was executed as part of the Pacific Dragon (PD) exercise, a trilateral Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) tracking event between the U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, and South Korean Navy held between June 26-28 off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii.
The biennial exercise focuses on improving tactical and technical coordination among its participants, including the detection, tracking and reporting of ballistic targets.
The tests was carried out by General Atomics on contract from U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Two Reapers were equipped with the Raytheon Multi-spectral Targeting Systems-B (MTS-B) Electro-optical Infrared (EO/IR) turrets, to detect and track the Ballistic Missile (BM) target.
"The test provided valuable data in our ongoing effort to develop an effective airborne missile defense capability," said Linden Blue, CEO, General Atomics.
The MQ-9 Reaper® is a long-endurance, medium- to high-altitude UAV extensively employed by U.S. Air Force and NATO allies to carry out surveillance, military reconnaissance, and ground target attacking missions.
The current aircraft configuration features an extensive payload capacity and is powered by a Honeywell turboprop engine with an altitude of over 45,000 feet.
The missile tracking test was executed as part of the Pacific Dragon (PD) exercise, a trilateral Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) tracking event between the U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, and South Korean Navy held between June 26-28 off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii.
The biennial exercise focuses on improving tactical and technical coordination among its participants, including the detection, tracking and reporting of ballistic targets.
The tests was carried out by General Atomics on contract from U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Two Reapers were equipped with the Raytheon Multi-spectral Targeting Systems-B (MTS-B) Electro-optical Infrared (EO/IR) turrets, to detect and track the Ballistic Missile (BM) target.
"The test provided valuable data in our ongoing effort to develop an effective airborne missile defense capability," said Linden Blue, CEO, General Atomics.
The MQ-9 Reaper® is a long-endurance, medium- to high-altitude UAV extensively employed by U.S. Air Force and NATO allies to carry out surveillance, military reconnaissance, and ground target attacking missions.
The current aircraft configuration features an extensive payload capacity and is powered by a Honeywell turboprop engine with an altitude of over 45,000 feet.
