Aeronaves y UAV

MQ-9 Reaper

Also known as
  • MQ-9A
  • MQ-9A Reaper
  • Predator B
  • Reaper

El MQ-9 Reaper es una aeronave pilotada remotamente de altitud media y gran autonomía de General Atomics, construida para la recolección persistente de inteligencia y el ataque de precisión. Más grande y potente que el MQ-1 Predator, combina control satelital, sensores electroópticos e infrarrojos, designación láser y armas como misiles Hellfire y bombas guiadas, lo que lo convierte en una plataforma recurrente de Estados Unidos y la coalición en operaciones de contraterrorismo, seguridad marítima y ataques regionales.

MQ-9 Reaper, Vehículo aéreo de combate no tripulado de altitud media y gran autonomía, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: File: MQ-9 Reaper - 090609-F-0000M-777.JPG

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Vehículo aéreo de combate no tripulado de altitud media y gran autonomía
Service note
Entró en servicio en la U.S. Air Force en 2007 y permanece en uso de combate y vigilancia posterior a 2015.
Designer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Designed
Primer vuelo en 2001
Unit cost
56,5 millones de dólares por un sistema que incluye cuatro aeronaves, sensores, estación de control terrestre y enlace satelital en dólares FY2011
Produced
Década de 2000-presente
Developed from
General Atomics MQ-1 Predator

Specifications

Función principal
Recolección de inteligencia en apoyo de misiones de ataque, coordinación y reconocimiento
Tripulación
Dos tripulantes remotos: piloto y operador de sensores
Autonomía
Más de 27 horas para el MQ-9A; unas 34 horas para el MQ-9A Extended Range
Carga útil
3.750 lb (1.701 kg) de carga útil total según la U.S. Air Force
Techo
Hasta 50.000 ft
Velocidad
Hasta 240 KTAS
Armamento
Misiles AGM-114 Hellfire y bombas guiadas GBU-12, GBU-38, GBU-49 o GBU-54
Dimensiones
66 ft de envergadura, 36 ft de longitud y 12,5 ft de altura
Variants

El registro del MQ-9A Reaper cubre la aeronave de combate básica derivada del Predator B; las filas relacionadas de la familia GA-ASI separan a continuación la configuración Extended Range de las células MQ-9B más nuevas.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MQ-9A Extended RangeConfiguración centrada en la autonomía

General Atomics lista una configuración Extended Range con unas 34 horas de autonomía, frente a más de 27 horas para el MQ-9A básico.

Sources: MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B)

MQ-9B SkyGuardianCélula RPAS de nueva generación

General Atomics describe SkyGuardian como una aeronave MQ-9B pilotada remotamente, diseñada para operación satelital más allá del horizonte e integración en espacio aéreo civil.

Sources: MQ-9B SkyGuardian

MQ-9B SeaGuardianConfiguración MQ-9B enfocada en misiones marítimas

General Atomics describe SeaGuardian como el hermano marítimo de SkyGuardian, con sensores marítimos desmontables.

Sources: MQ-9B SeaGuardian

Municiones transportadas

Fuentes oficiales de la Air Force listan misiles Hellfire y varias bombas guiadas de 500 libras en el armamento del MQ-9 Reaper, mientras que otros videos y ensayos oficiales documentan armas adicionales transportadas o demostradas.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyFamilia de misiles aire-superficie

La ficha informativa de la Air Force y una fuente de Lockheed Martin documentan que el MQ-9 Reaper puede transportar y emplear misiles AGM-114 Hellfire.

Sources: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet, First Live Warhead Flight for Lockheed Martin's Multi-Purpose HELLFIRE II Missile

GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, 500-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb, MunitionsGBU-38 Joint Direct Attack MunitionBomba de 500 libras guiada por GPS

La ficha informativa de la Air Force lista la GBU-38 entre las bombas guiadas transportadas por el MQ-9 Reaper.

Sources: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet

GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, 500-pound GPS/laser-guided bomb, MunitionsGBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II500-pound dual-mode guided bomb

The Air Force fact sheet lists the GBU-49 as part of the MQ-9 Reaper guided-bomb armament set.

Sources: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet

GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition, 500-pound dual-mode guided bomb, MunitionsGBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack MunitionBomba de 500 libras guiada por láser/GPS

La ficha informativa de la Air Force lista la GBU-54 como una opción de bomba guiada del MQ-9 Reaper.

Sources: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet

GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb - reported MQ-9 use, lower confidence, Precision-guided glide bomb, MunitionsGBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb - reported MQ-9 use, lower confidenceBomba planeadora guiada de precisión

Un video oficial estadounidense de carga mostró bombas GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb cargadas en un MQ-9 Reaper en Creech Air Force Base.

Sources: GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs Loaded on MQ-9 B-Roll

Municiones lanzadas demostradas

Informes de MBDA y del gobierno británico documentan al MQ-9 Reaper como plataforma de lanzamiento de Brimstone durante ensayos de tiro.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Brimstone, Anti-tank guided missile, MunitionsBrimstoneMisil guiado antitanque

El gobierno británico informó de un ensayo de disparo de un misil de precisión Brimstone de modo dual desde un Reaper, y MBDA dijo posteriormente que Brimstone había sido demostrado desde Reaper RPAS.

Sources: Ambassador Westmacott visits RAF Squadron in Nevada, Brimstone - When missing is not an option

Mission Systems and Loadout

El MQ-9 está construido en torno a vigilancia persistente pilotada remotamente que puede pasar al ataque de precisión cuando lleva armas. Material oficial de la Air Force y de General Atomics describe la aeronave como una plataforma controlada por satélite, con sensores electroópticos e infrarrojos, designación láser, radar de apertura sintética y transporte en múltiples puntos de anclaje para misiles y bombas guiadas.

ÁreaConfiguración documentadaPor qué importa
Tripulación de controlPiloto remoto y operador de sensoresSepara el control de la aeronave del trabajo de sensores y designación de objetivos durante misiones largas de ISR o ataque.
Paquete de sensoresSensores electroópticos/infrarrojos, designación láser y radar de apertura sintéticaApoya vigilancia, seguimiento de objetivos y empleo de armas guiadas por láser desde la misma órbita.
Configuración de armasMisiles Hellfire más bombas guiadas GBU-12, GBU-38, GBU-49 y GBU-54 en listados de la Air ForceDa a la aeronave una combinación de opciones de misiles y bombas para reconocimiento armado y fuegos de precisión.
Diferencia de autonomíaMás de 27 horas para MQ-9A; unas 34 horas para MQ-9A Extended Range en datos de GA-ASIExplica por qué el Reaper suele representarse como una órbita persistente más que como una aeronave de ataque de corta duración.

Fuentes: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet; MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B).

Timeline

MQ-9 Reaper Key Events

  1. Primer vuelo del Predator B

    General Atomics remonta la familia MQ-9A Reaper al primer vuelo del Predator B en 2001.

    Sources: MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B)

  2. Entrada en servicio en la U.S. Air Force

    La ficha informativa de la U.S. Air Force lista 2007 como el año de entrada en servicio del MQ-9 Reaper.

    Sources: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet

  3. Ataque de combate en Irak

    Un MQ-9 Reaper lanzó una bomba de 500 libras contra fuerzas antiiraquíes cerca de Balad durante su uso operativo temprano en Irak.

    Sources: Reaper Drops Bomb on Anti-Iraqi Forces

  4. Cobertura de la operación de Raqqah

    Informes de la Air Force describieron a las tripulaciones de MQ-9 como integrales para el apoyo aéreo cercano, reconocimiento, vigilancia, designación láser cooperativa y ataques de precisión de la coalición en torno a Raqqah.

    Sources: Combat RPAs Integral in Defeating ISIS

  5. Ataque contra el aeropuerto de Bagdad

    La cobertura del ataque contra Soleimani identificó a un MQ-9 Reaper estadounidense como la aeronave usada en el ataque contra el aeropuerto de Bagdad.

    Sources: A visual guide to the US airstrike that killed Qassem Suleimani

  6. Derribo en el mar Rojo

    USNI News informó del derribo Houthi de un MQ-9 estadounidense sobre el mar Rojo durante la crisis en torno a ataques vinculados con Yemen contra el transporte marítimo.

    Sources: Houthis Shoot Down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Over Red Sea

Media

MQ-9 Reaper Videos

MQ-9 Reaper Images

MQ-9 Reaper, Vehículo aéreo de combate no tripulado de altitud media y gran autonomía, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: File: First MQ-9 Reaper Taxies at Creech AFB 2007
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Related News

Sources

MQ-9 Reaper Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports U.S. Air Force role, contractor, service entry, armament, dimensions, payload, unit-cost, and crew details. | Accessed: 2026-06-20GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs Loaded on MQ-9 B-RollPublisher: Secretary of the Air Force Office of Energy, Installations, and Environment | Note: Official U.S. loading video showing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs loaded on an MQ-9 Reaper at Creech Air Force Base. | Accessed: 2026-06-28First Live Warhead Flight for Lockheed Martin's Multi-Purpose HELLFIRE II MissilePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports MQ-9 carriage and employment of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles during the first live warhead flight. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Ambassador Westmacott visits RAF Squadron in NevadaPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Reaper trial firing of Brimstone during UK and U.S. testing in Nevada. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Brimstone - When missing is not an optionPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports Reaper Brimstone firing-trial and launch-platform context. | Accessed: 2026-06-28MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B)Publisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer background, first-flight context, endurance, speed, altitude, payload, mission systems, and ER variant details. | Accessed: 2026-06-20MQ-9B SkyGuardianPublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems | Note: Supports adjacent MQ-9B SkyGuardian family context, endurance framing, satellite-control description, and civil-airspace integration claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-01MQ-9B SeaGuardianPublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems | Note: Supports adjacent MQ-9B SeaGuardian family context and maritime sensor configuration claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File: MQ-9 Reaper - 090609-F-0000M-777.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force image of an MQ-9 Reaper in flight, used for primary image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File: First MQ-9 Reaper Taxies at Creech AFB 2007Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force image of the first MQ-9 Reaper taxiing at Creech Air Force Base, used for gallery context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01MQ-9 Reaper Keeps Eyes on TargetsPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Directly documents post-2015 Afghanistan conflict use: MQ-9 operations from Kandahar Airfield. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Reaper Drops Bomb on Anti-Iraqi ForcesPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Directly documents 2003 Iraq War conflict use: a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb on anti-Iraqi forces near Balad in August 2008. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Combat RPAs Integral in Defeating ISISPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Directly documents 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve conflict use: MQ-9 Reapers in Raqqah combat operations against ISIS. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Providing Freedom from Terror: MQ-9s Help Reclaim SirtePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Directly documents 2016 U.S. Campaign Against ISIS in Libya conflict use: MQ-9 Reapers in the 2016 Sirte campaign by U.S. and Libyan Government of National Accord forces. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Statement from U.S. Central Command on Attacks Against U.S. Observation AircraftPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Directly documents 2014 Yemen Civil War conflict use: a U.S. MQ-9 shot down over Yemen by Houthi-aligned forces in June 2019. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Houthis Shoot Down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Over Red SeaPublisher: USNI News | Note: Directly documents 2023 Red Sea Crisis conflict use: the November 2023 Houthi shootdown of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper over the Red Sea. | Accessed: 2026-06-20A visual guide to the US airstrike that killed Qassem SuleimaniPublisher: The Guardian | Note: Directly documents 2020 United States-Iran Conflict use: an American MQ-9 Reaper used by U.S. forces carried out the Baghdad strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. | Accessed: 2026-06-20US Flying Drones Above Gaza in Search for HostagesPublisher: ABC News | Note: Directly documents 2023 Israel-Hamas War conflict use: U.S. officials said unarmed MQ-9 Reaper flights operated over Gaza for hostage-recovery support after the October 7 attack. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Tracking US Military Assets in the Iran WarPublisher: Atlantic Council | Note: Directly documents 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict use: MQ-9 Reapers were used by the United States in Operation Epic Fury, with several aircraft loitering over enemy airspace at a time. | Accessed: 2026-06-22Deep Suspicion of US Lingers as Iran Ponders Agreement to End WarPublisher: Al Jazeera | Note: Directly documents 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict use: Iranian forces said they shot down a U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drone during the U.S.-Israel war on Iran after renewed U.S. strikes. | Accessed: 2026-06-22