Robot model
MQ-9 Reaper
The MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for the U.S.
- Manufacturer
- General Atomics
- Form factor
- aerial
- Maturity
- production
- Lifecycle
- superseded
- Deployments
- 1
The verified answer
As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies MQ-9 Reaper, a aerial by General Atomics (production): 1 verified deployment on record. 3 sources back the record.
supersededSuperseded by MQ-9 Reaper. The historical entry remains for reference; current coverage tracks the successor.
Overview
The MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for the U.S. Air Force and allied nations. With over 27 hours endurance, speeds of 240 KTAS, operating altitude up to 50,000 feet, and a 3,850 lb payload capacity, the MQ-9 is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance surveillance and strike missions. 575 units built as of 2026.
Verified vs. claimed
- Maturity stage
- production(Full-scale production deployment with repeat customers.)
- Sources on file
- View all sources →
Key facts
Wingspan
Endurance
Payload
Max altitude
Specs
Payload kg
Wingspan m
Endurance hr
Max altitude ft
Data & sources
Press releases
1
Web sources
2
3 sources backing this record.View all →
Pricing
No verified price is on record for MQ-9 Reaper. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.
Deployments (1)
The MQ-9 Reaper has been in continuous service with the U.S.
MQ-9 Reaper on the deployment map
View the global mapWhere MQ-9 Reaper is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Record createdJun 27, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Incident recordedMay 29, 2026
MQ-9A Reaper shot down by Houthi rebels over Yemen
- Incident recordedNov 24, 2025
USAF MQ-9 Reaper crashed off the coast of South Korea
- Incident recordedDec 16, 2024
MQ-9 Reaper crashed into Mediterranean Sea after propeller decoupled mid-flight
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedMay 1, 2007
at United States Air Force (global operations)
Safety record
3 incidents on record. Most recent: May 2026.
Most recent: May 2026
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Incidents affecting MQ-9 Reaper (3)
- MQ-9A Reaper shot down by Houthi rebels over Yemen2026-05-29 · Other
- USAF MQ-9 Reaper crashed off the coast of South Korea2025-11-24 · Malfunction
- MQ-9 Reaper crashed into Mediterranean Sea after propeller decoupled mid-flight2024-12-16 · Malfunction
Includes incidents linked directly to this model or to deployments of it. Retracted incidents are excluded from this view but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Sources (3)
- GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian product page · https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b
- MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B) · https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9a
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper
Common questions
What is MQ-9 Reaper?
How much does MQ-9 Reaper cost?
Is MQ-9 Reaper actually deployed in the real world?
Who makes MQ-9 Reaper?
Where is MQ-9 Reaper deployed?
Can you buy MQ-9 Reaper?
What are alternatives to MQ-9 Reaper?
How does MQ-9 Reaper compare to Skydio X10?
Is MQ-9 Reaper a top aerial?
What is MQ-9 Reaper's maturity stage?
Is MQ-9 Reaper still being made?
Is MQ-9 Reaper safe?
Methodology: Verified · 3 sources (1 primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-14
Verification posture
Verified
High confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-07-14
Maturity + lifecycle
Maturity stage: production
Lifecycle: superseded
Architectural position
Cohort: aerial
Sources by quality tier
- 1
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
- 1
- primary-company-ir
- Company IR disclosure
- 1
- knowledge-base
- Knowledge base
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for MQ-9 Reaper.Recent coverage
MQ-9 Reaper in third-party press
Attention vs reality over time
Media mentions per month (area) against verified deployment events (dots). A press spike over a flat deployment line is the hype gap, drawn over time.
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning MQ-9 Reaper from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
U.S. Air Force plans cheaper MQ-9 Reaper successor after Iran combat use, targeting 2031 fielding and massed drone operations
The U.S. Air Force is developing a successor to the General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper after the drone played a leading combat role during Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
Pentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 Reaper
The Massed Modular Aircraft project aims to develop a drone that can operate in such large numbers that it can absorb losses and still overwhelm defenses.
Pentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 Reaper
The Massed Modular Aircraft project aims to develop a drone that can operate in such large numbers that it can absorb losses and still overwhelm defenses.
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /models/general-atomics-parent-mq-9-reaper.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/models/0e3700b0-9892-486e-85e5-a19da5e4686e
- Revision history: /models/general-atomics-parent-mq-9-reaper/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Reality vs attention
MQ-9 Reaper draws attention at the 24th percentile but verifies reality at the 20th percentile among aerial robots. Hype Gap +3.5, 50th widest among aerial robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Limited independent press and video coverage to date.
Signal flags
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Aug 17, 2026