The Spanish government has given the green light to the purchase of four “MQ-9 surveillance drones Reaper"Of General Atomics for just under 170 million dollars (150 million). This is what we read in a note issued by the Spanish Council of Ministers.
"The first two drones and the first ground control station will be delivered to the Spanish Air Force in July of the 2017. The second ground control station will be delivered in October of the 2018. The third and fourth Reaper they will arrive in Spain respectively in April of 2019 and 2020 ”.
The MQ-9 Reaper, wingspan of 20 meters and 27 hours of autonomy, is used by the United Kingdom, France and Italy. It has already been ordered by the Netherlands. The United Kingdom and Italy are the only countries after the United States to have been authorized to dispose of the armed version. Turkey has also made this request.
The version purchased by the Spanish is Block V, currently the latest version of the General Atomics drone. The new model has a high capacity starter generator and an electric system totally revised with a system of backup able to support all flight functions. The drone has three independent power sources to accommodate new sensors and simultaneous communication systems between multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground platforms. The Block V ensures greater data transmission capacity in "total" security. Block V can carry heavier loads than previous versions.
It should be noted that the Spanish Reaper will not be armed. The procedure for the acquisition of weapons systems for UAVs is subject to the go-ahead by the State Department with ratification by the United States Congress.
"Based on the asymmetric nature of the new conflicts, the future missions of the Spanish harvesters will include terrestrial and maritime identification, surveillance, recognition and acquisition of the target. Combat support missions, electronic warfare, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear), recognition of IED (improvised) explosive devices and support to air rescue operations ".
Italian armed drones
The agreement provides for an initial 130 million dollar contract with General Atomics as prime contractor. Italy purchased 156 missiles AGM-114R2 Hellfire II built by Lockheed Martin, 20 GBU-12 (laser guided bombs), 30 GBU-38 JDAM and other weapon systems.
The six Italian "Reapers" (just under eleven million dollars per specimen) have been deployed this year in Sigonella, Sicily, the "hub" of the Mediterranean. On the same basis, the USA also risked i Global Hawk in support of intelligence operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The Italian UAVs of Sigonella carry out reconnaissance missions also to counter the phenomenon of illegal immigration. Italian drones that have also carried out operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Libya. We know that in Kuwait, Italy has deployed two UAVs in reconnaissance missions.
Italy is the second country, after Great Britain, which will be equipped with role drones hunter killer. The Italian request to arm the MQ-9 Reaper drones (purchased in the 2009) was formulated in the 2012. Turkey has also made this request. The role of Reaper Italians, probably, should limit themselves to the armed support of the contingents deployed abroad under the aegis of NATO. The Italian government, unlike the British and Americans, has not yet authorized the missions of targeting leader. However, Italy will now have to implement a widespread intelligence network that can determine sensitive targets. A capacity, already questioned in the 2012 by the US Senate Intelligence Commission, in an exchange of letters between Hillary Clinton, then Secretary of State and Dianne Feinstein. The latter was in fact the head of the commission that expressed doubts about the Italian abilities in having such a weapon system.
(photo / video: General Atomics)
