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- superseded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 Oct 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 (3 moderate). 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 Wing Delivery Aircraft?
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.
Vectis contra el MQ-9 Reaper: el dron furtivo que nace para operar donde el otro ya no sobrevive
Lockheed Martin presenta el Vectis como el CCA más avanzado del mercado mientras el Reaper, el dron ofensivo de referencia de EE.UU. desde hace dos décadas, acumula decenas de…
Drone maker unveils ‘low-cost’ alternative to MQ-9 Reaper
Swarm Aero said its Gamera design will deliver more capabilities than the MQ-9 Reaper at a fraction of the cost.
First Look At General Atomics’ Wildfire, Its Successor To The MQ-9 Reaper (Updated)
The USAF is hunting for new lower-cost armed drones to perform the same missions as the MQ-9 in the wake of huge Reaper losses. The post First Look At General Atomics’ Wildfire,…
USAF Wants MQ-9 Reaper Successor At A Fraction Of The Cost At $10M Each
The USAF has aggressive cost and schedule goals for new drones to succeed the MQ-9 fleet that has suffered major losses. The post USAF Wants MQ-9 Reaper Successor At A Fraction Of…
Air Force moves to accelerate effort to replace MQ-9 Reaper after combat losses in Iran war
“We want to bring this thing forward because of the fact that, although we have plenty of MQ-9As today, we are going through them at a rate that is concerning to us,” Lt. Gen.…
Wildfire Is General Atomics’ Successor To The MQ-9 Reaper
The Wildfire concept has been entered into a new Pentagon competition to find a next generation of medium-altitude, long-endurance ISR and strike drone. The post Wildfire Is…
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 65th percentile but verifies reality at the 25th percentile among aerial robots. Hype Gap +39.5, 26th widest among aerial robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Thin deployment record; scale validation still in progress.
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: Oct 2, 2026