The Greek Defense Ministry has reportedly agreed to buy three US-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to boost its defense capabilities and improve reconnaissance over the Aegean Sea.
MQ-9 Reaper "Predator B" (Picture source: General Atomics)
According to a report on ANT television station on Wednesday (24 April), the deal, estimated to be approximately 50 million euro, involves the purchase of three General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAVs “Predator B” and the construction of two ground control stations.
The MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance. The MQ-9 is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier General Atomics MQ-1 Predator; it can be controlled by the same ground systems used to control MQ-1s. The Reaper has a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) turboprop engine (compared to the Predator's 115 hp (86 kW) piston engine). The greater power allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at about three times the speed of the MQ-1. The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS), including weapons employment.