Netherlands Will Purchase Four Additional MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper UAV

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on June 16 that the US Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Dutch Government of MQ-9 Block 5 drones and related equipment to estimated cost of 611 million US dollars.

The Dutch government has requested to purchase up to four General Atomics MQ-9 Block 5 drones, three Mobile Ground Control Systems (MGCS) and other related devices.

The MQ-9 Block 5 drone will support Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions as well as Air Assault and Counter Maritime Operations tasks.

The Dutch Air Force currently has four MQ-9A drones made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) in its inventory.

For specifications, the MQ-9 family has dimensions of 11 m in length, 20 m in wingspan, and 3.8 m in height.

It has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 4,760 kg.

Equipped with a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine with 900 hp (671 kW).

For performance, the MQ-9 has a maximum speed of 482 km/h, and a flight altitude of up to 15,420 m.

Able to operate as far as 1,900 km or fly for 27 in the air.