USMC Conducts First Operational Flight Of MQ-9A Reaper UAS In The Middle East

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of GA-ASI’s MQ-9A Reaper UAS in the Middle East on March 20.

The VMU-1 “Watchdog” crews took control of a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) MQ-9A supporting forward deployed Marines, while the GA-ASI team provided oversight. This achievement by the USMC comes shortly after 7,000 hours of COCO flight operations since Sept. 2018 was surpassed. “This achievement represents a unique milestone and example of the Marine Corps’ legacy of innovation,” says David R. Alexander, president, GA-ASI. “As a partner with the Marine Corps, we look forward to expanding the role of Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) UAS in support of maritime littoral missions.”To fulfill its urgent needs request for persistent Intelligence…Read More