U.S. Air Force On 1 May 2007, the U.S. Air Force activated its
432nd Wing to operate MQ-9 Reapers and MQ-1 Predators at
Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The pilots first conducted combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan that summer. On 28 October 2007, an MQ-9 achieved its first "kill", firing a
Hellfire missile against Afghan insurgents in the Deh Rawood region of the mountainous Oruzgan province. By 6 March 2008, according to Air Force Lieutenant General Gary North, the Reaper had attacked 16 targets in Afghanistan using bombs and Hellfire missiles. In 2008, the
New York Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing began to switch from
F-16 fighters to Reapers, becoming the first fighter unit to convert entirely to
unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) use. On 17 July 2008, the USAF began flying Reaper missions within Iraq from
Balad Air Base. It was reported on 11 August 2008 that the
174th Fighter Wing would consist entirely of Reapers. By March 2009 the USAF had 28 operational Reapers. Beginning in September 2009, Reapers were deployed by the
Africa Command to the Seychelles islands for use in Indian Ocean
anti-piracy patrols. On 13 September 2009, positive control of an MQ-9 was lost during a combat mission over Afghanistan, after which the control-less drone started flying towards the Afghan border with Tajikistan. An
F-15E Strike Eagle fired an
AIM-9 missile at the drone, successfully destroying its engine. Before the drone impacted the ground, contact was reestablished with the drone, and it was flown into a mountain to destroy it. It was the first US drone to be destroyed intentionally by allied forces. By July 2010, thirty-eight Predators and Reapers had been lost during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, another nine were lost in training missions in the U.S. In 2010, the USAF conducted over 33,000 close air support missions, a more-than-20 percent increase compared with 2009. In 2012, the Reaper, Predator and
Global Hawk were described as "... the most accident-prone aircraft in the Air Force fleet." In October 2011, the USAF began operating Reapers out of
Arba Minch Airport in Ethiopia for surveillance-only operations in Somalia. In 2012, both Reapers and Predators were deployed in
Benghazi, Libya after
the attack that killed the US ambassador in that city. In February 2013, the U.S. stationed a Predator at
Niamey to provide intelligence for French forces during
Operation Serval in Mali; it was later replaced by two MQ-9 Reapers. In April 2013, one of these Reapers crashed on a surveillance flight due to mechanical failure. On 22 October 2013, the USAF fleets of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs reached 2,000,000 flight hours. The RPA program began in the mid-1990s, taking 16 years to reach 1 million flight hours; the 2 million hour mark was reached just two and a half years later. The high demand for UAVs has caused
Air Combat Command to increase pilot output from 188 in 2015 to 300 in 2017 at Holloman. On 13 November 2015, the Pentagon reported that an MQ-9 had killed
ISIL member Mohammed Emwazi, popularly known as "
Jihadi John", who was responsible for executing several Western prisoners. In 2015, a record number (20) of USAF drones crashed; investigators identified three parts of the starter-generator that were susceptible to breakdowns, but could not determine why they were failing. Col. William S. Leister informed Pentagon officials that investigators from the USAF, General Atomics and Skurka had investigated the problem for more than a year. The team, he said, had identified "numerous manufacturing quality issues" yet had been unable to determine the exact cause of the failures. On 2 October 2017,
U.S. Central Command stated that an MQ-9 had been shot down by
Houthi air defense systems over
Sanaa in western
Yemen the previous day. The aircraft departed from
Chabelley Airport in Djibouti, and was armed. On 18 September 2018, the USAF announced that an MQ-9 armed with an air-to-air missile successfully shot down a smaller target drone in November 2017. The drone was operated by the 432nd Wing. While the destruction of a target drone is a routine USAF exercise, this event was the first instance of a Reaper destroying a small, maneuvering aerial target. at a
forward area refueling point (FARP) in December 2022 On 6 June 2019, Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper over Yemen. According to
United States Central Command, it was shot down by an
SA-6 surface-to-air missile that was enabled with Iranian assistance. On 21 August 2019, another unarmed MQ-9 was shot down by Houthis over Dhamar, Yemen, by a Yemini-made Fater-1 missile, an improved SA-6. On 23 November 2019, a US MQ-9 Reaper was shot down by a
Pantsir system operated by the
Libyan National Army or
Wagner Group over
Tripoli, Libya. According to journalist
David Cenciotti, the drone was lost after being jammed by Russian
Wagner militias working in support of the
Libyan National Army. On 3 January 2020, a US MQ-9 missile strike at
Baghdad International Airport killed
Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian
Quds Force, and
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqi
Popular Mobilization Forces. On 18 August 2020,
US Department of Defense announced that two US MQ-9 Reapers had crashed in a
mid-air collision over Syria. However, claims from local media said that at least one drone might have been shot down by
Syrian Opposition rebel fighters or Turkish forces. In April 2021, U.S. and Polish militaries agreed on a long-negotiated plan to increase the American presence in Poland with two units of MQ-9 Reapers deployed by the USAF. On 14 July 2022, an MQ-9 Reaper operated by the
25th Attack Group crashed during a training mission in Romania. The MQ-9 drones have been deployed to the
Romanian 71st Air Base in 2021, starting their operational flights on 1 February 2021. On 14 March 2023, one of two intercepting Russian
Su-27 fighters
collided with an MQ-9 Reaper flying in international airspace over the
Black Sea. US Air Force Gen.
James Hecker, commander of the
United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, stated, "At approximately 7:03 am (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters. Several times before the collision, the Su-27s
dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional." Russia says it will attempt to retrieve the drone. The US government claimed that it was prepared for such an outcome.
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, said that "their ability to exploit useful intelligence will be highly minimised". While the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
Mark A. Milley said that there were "mitigating measures" to ensure that Russia obtained no access to valuable technology. He also confirmed that the US would look for the drone as well; however, the water in which it crashed was deep. Brigadier General
Pat Ryder said the drone was left "unflyable and uncontrollable" and likely damaged the Su-27 during the collision. The US has since released footage over the Black Sea. On 23 July 2023, a Russian fighter aircraft intercepted a US Air Force MQ-9 over Syria and deployed flares in front of it, damaging the propeller. The drone returned to base safely. It was the third near-collision of an MQ-9 with Russian aircraft over Syria that month, with previous incidents on 5 July and 6 July. On 8 November 2023, Houthi rebels in Yemen shot down a US Air Force MQ-9 over the
Red Sea amid the
attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. On 18 January 2024, the
Islamic Resistance of Iraq claims to have shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone after it took off from
Kuwait near
Muqdadiyah,
Diyala Governorate. On 19 February 2024, Houthi rebels in Yemen shot down a US Air Force MQ-9 over the port city
Al Hudaydah amid the
attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. On 25 April 2024, Houthi rebels shot down a US MQ-9 over the
Saada Governorate in Yemen. The US Air Force acknowledged that an MQ-9 crashed in Yemen, and that an investigation was underway. During the
Gaza war, at least six US MQ-9 Reapers were flown over the Gaza Strip to assist Israel with reconnaissance efforts. On 24 May 2024, the Houthi group claimed to have shot down a U.S. MQ-9 over
Sanaa. On 29 May 2024, an American MQ-9 crashed in Yemen. On 4 August 2024, an American MQ-9 was reportedly shot down in Yemen by the Houthis. On 10 and 16 September 2024, two American MQ-9A Reaper drones were shot down over Yemen by Houthi rebels, the latter in
Dhamar province. Both losses were confirmed by the US military. On 8 November 2024, the Houthis claimed to have downed an American MQ-9 Reaper in Yemen's
al-Jawf province, an incident being investigated by the US military. On 28 December 2024, Yemen's Houthis claimed that it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 while carrying out hostile missions in the skies of
Al Bayda Governorate. On 4 March 2025, the Houthis said they had shot down a Reaper drone over
Hodeidah, claiming it to be their 15th MQ-9 downing since the start of the
Gaza war in 2023. The US Air Force acknowledged it had lost contact with a drone. On 19 April 2025, Fox News reported a fifth MQ-9 shot down over Yemen since U.S. Central Command began daily airstrikes on the Houthis on 15 March. On April 25, 2025, CNN reported since the launch of the major military campaign in March 2025 by the US targeting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, the group had successfully shot down at least seven MQ-9s. As of April 2026, 24 U.S. MQ-9s have been lost amid the
2026 Iran war, many were shot down while others were destroyed on the ground from Iranian airstrikes. During the 2026 Iran–United States conflict, several media outlets reported losses of MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the United States. According to reporting by ABC News, citing U.S. officials, more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, each valued at approximately $16 million, were lost during operations related to the conflict. The report stated that some of the drones were shot down by Iranian missiles, while others were destroyed on the ground during attacks.
NASA The
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initially expressed interest in a production version of the B-002 turbofan-powered variant, In November 2006, NASA's
Dryden Flight Research Center obtained an MQ-9 (and mobile ground control station), named
Ikhana, for the Suborbital Science Program within the Science Mission Directorate. In 2007, Ikhana was used to survey the
Southern California wildfires, supporting firefighter deployments based upon the highest need. The
California Office of Emergency Services requested NASA support for the
Esperanza Fire, and the General Atomics Altair was launched less than 24 hours later on a 16-hour mission to map the fire's perimeter. The fire mapping research is a joint project with NASA and the US Forest Service. The NASA Ikhana was used to survey the descent of the
Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) module on its first test mission 5 December 2014. The aircraft loitered at , used its IR camera to detect the capsule, then switched to the optical camera to observe its descent through parachute deployment and landing in the Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operated nine MQ-9s in August 2012. Two were based in North Dakota at
Grand Forks Air Force Base, four were based in Arizona, at
Fort Huachuca and one was based at the
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. These aircraft were equipped with GA-ASI's Lynx
synthetic aperture radar and Raytheon's MTS-B electro-optical infrared sensors. The CBP also had two maritime MQ-9s, called Guardians, based at
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The Guardians were equipped with the SeaVue marine search radar; their electro-optical
infrared sensor was optimized for maritime operations. The
United States Department of Homeland Security initially ordered one Predator B for border protection duty, referred to as MQ-9 CBP-101. It began operations 4 October 2005 and crashed in the
Arizona desert on 25 April 2006. The US's
NTSB determined that the crash's most likely cause was
pilot error by the ground-based
pilot, inadvertently shutting down the UAV's engine by failing to follow the
checklist. During its operational period, the aircraft flew 959 hours on patrol and played a role in 2,309 arrests. It also contributed to the seizure of four vehicles and of marijuana. A second Predator B, called "CBP-104" (initially referred to as "CBP-102"), was delivered in September 2006 and commenced limited border protection operations on 18 October 2006. The president's FY2006 emergency supplemental budget request added $45 million for the program and the FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill added an additional $20 million. In October 2006, GA-ASI announced a $33.9 million contract to supply two more Predator B systems by the fall 2007. On 16 February 2009, the program was further expanded to include patrols of the Canada–US border. In February 2009, an MQ-9 began patrolling the
Manitoba portion of the U.S.-Canada border and the
Great Lakes region, as well as
Akwesasne Mohawk territory in Ontario and northern New York. The UAV was based at
Grand Forks Air Force Base and watched the -long border. The drone does not carry weapons and needs permission to enter Canadian airspace. In January 2014, Customs and Border Protection grounded its UAVs temporarily after an unmanned aircraft was ditched off the coast of California by the operator due to a mechanical failure on 27 January 2014. On 29 May 2020, during the
George Floyd protests, CBP flew an unarmed Predator B drone above Minneapolis to watch protesters. The agency said it was at the request of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis.
U.S. Marine Corps Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) began operations with the MQ-9 on a contractor-owned, contractor-operated basis in 2018, and accepted delivery of the Marine Corps' first two MQ-9A air frames in September 2021.
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 (VMU-3), based out of
MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI, received their first two MQ-9A air frames in April 2023, and reached initial operational capability (IOC) ahead of schedule in August 2023.
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 (VMU-2) was re-designated as VMUT-2 in July 2023. VMUT-2 will serve as the Fleet Replacement Squadron and training squadron for the Marine Corps' UAS officers and enlisted sensor operators.
Other users Belgium In January 2018, the
Belgian Ministry of Defence reportedly decided on the MQ-9 to fulfill its medium-altitude long-range UAV requirement. Ministry officials stated that a
request for information had been sent to potential suppliers of the system, and that they had received responses from all of them. In October 2018, Belgium confirmed its selection of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian variant, adding that it would be considered a "reconnaissance" asset, suggesting it will not be used to carry weapons. In March 2019, the US Department of State approved the sale of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAVs to Belgium for $600 million (~$ in ), pending approval by US Congress. In July 2022, work began on adapting the
Florennes Air Base to host, fly and maintain the planes.
Canada On 19 December 2023, Canada announced a CA$2.49-billion contract for 11 MQ-9Bs, 219 Hellfire missiles, and 12 Mk82 500-lb bombs. The contract also includes six ground control stations, two new aircraft hangars, training and sustainment. The MQ-9Bs are to be stationed at
14 Wing Greenwood with 55 personnel and
19 Wing Comox, B.C with 25 personnel and in
Ottawa with 160 staff at the main ground control centre and personnel forward deploying in northern Canada as required. Construction for the infrastructure to house and operate the drones is expected to begin in 2025. In fall 2024, production began on the first two MQ-9Bs. The drones are to begin testing in 2026 before deliveries start in 2028.
France On 31 May 2013, French Defense Minister
Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed the order of two MQ-9 Reapers, to be delivered by the end of 2013. It was chosen to replace the
EADS Harfang and was picked over the Israeli
Heron TP. On 27 June 2013, the U.S.
Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to France for 16 unarmed MQ-9s, associated equipment, ground control hardware, and support, worth up to $1.5 billion total. On 26 August 2013, France and the US Department of Defense concluded the deal for 16 Reapers and 8 ground control stations, with French operators beginning training. On 24 September 2013, France's first pair of MQ-9 pilots conducted a two-hour training sortie at
Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Both French pilots had prior UAV experience and went through a five-week ground-based training course and 5 hours on a flight simulator before the first flight. Two additional crews were also receiving instruction at the facility. General Atomics is due to deliver two Reapers and one ground control station to the
French Air Force by the end of 2013. On 26 November 2013, France declared that six pilots in three teams were operational, following 100 hours on flight simulators and 4 flights. French MQ-9s were first put into action in January 2014 at
Niamey Air Base in
Niger for border reconnaissance in the
Sahel desert. On 16 January 2014, France's first MQ-9 flight occurred from Niger. The first two Reapers to enter French service are designated Block 1 and use U.S. equipment; further orders are to be modified with European payloads such as sensors and data links. On 31 March 2014, French Air Force Reapers accumulated 500 flight hours in support of Operation Serval. In July 2014, a French MQ-9 helped to locate the wreckage of
Air Algérie Flight 5017, which had crashed in Mali.
Germany Germany made a request to purchase five Reapers and four ground control stations, plus related support material and training. The request, being made through the
Foreign Military Sales process, was presented to Congress through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 1 August 2008 and is valued at US$205 million (~$ in ). However, Germany did not go through with this procurement for the time being and decided to lease the
IAI Heron offered by IAI and
Rheinmetall instead, initially for the duration of one year, representing a stop-gap measure before a long-term decision on a
Medium-altitude long-endurance ('MALE') UAV is being made.
Greece On 21 April 2022, a well-known Greek military journalist revealed in an interview that the
Hellenic Air Force is discussing the purchase of three MQ-9 UCAVs along with the Israeli
Heron TPs. Given that the
US Air Force has long been operating MQ-9s from
Larissa Air Base, Greece has some past experience with it from joint exercises. On 5 July 2022, the
Hellenic Parliament approved the acquisition of three MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs along with two ground stations. On 28 July 2022, the Greek Minister for National Defence,
Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, confirmed the acquisition of the three UAVs.
India Lease In November 2020, the Indian Navy began operating two leased MQ-9B SeaGuardians. The lease agreement was valid for one year and has been extended subsequently. The drones are deployed at the
Naval Air Station Rajali located in
Tamil Nadu and had logged close to 3,000 hours covering over 14 million square miles by August 2022. General Atomics is expected to replace the lost drone. As per the lease agreement signed between the Navy and General Atomics. General Atomics has been given the responsibility to operate the drones for a certain amount of hours per month for the Indian Navy. The operations and maintenance is carried out from a ground control centre at
INS Rajali near Chennai. On 3 February 2025, it was reported that General Atomics had replaced the crashed drone as per the lease agreement. The crash had occurred due to a power failure and the new drone is operational. The two drones have clocked 18,000 flying hours. The extension of the lease agreement for the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) RPAS was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on 29 December 2025. The project also includes the lease of two additional Sea Guardians which will fill the surveillance gap until the delivery of 31 MQ-9Bs begin.
Order In June 2017, the US State Department approved the sale of 22 drones to India, costing around $2–3 billion. , a deal to purchase 30 drones with 10 drones for each of the three Indian armed services, was expected to be signed by the end of the fiscal year. In February 2022, it was reported that Indian Navy had shelved the deal and was instead looking at more indigenous options from the
DRDO as well as upgrading its current fleet of
IAI Heron drones. On 27 February 2022,
PTI reported that the procurement for the 30 armed Predator B drones – 10 each for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force - is in the advanced stage and disputed earlier reports of the deal being put on the back burner with India reportedly providing "good feedback" on the SeaGuardians already on lease. On 15 June 2023, Reuters reported that the Indian side has approved the purchase of 31 drones worth slightly over $3 billion. The formal announcement of the deal was done during the state visit of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. The US sent the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the
Ministry of Defence for a deal of 31 MQ-9Bs (15 for Navy, and 8 each for Army and Air Force). The document will now be forwarded to
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval. A US delegation was in India during early June 2024 to negotiate the deal. General Atomics has offered "to provide consultancy to Indian entities" to develop an advanced UAV under Predator deal. General Atomics is also expected to establish a Global
MRO facility in India. The assembly of the drones is to be done in India. By value, 30% of the sub components will be sourced from Indian companies though there will be no
technology transfer under the agreement. The deal also includes the purchase of 170
AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 310
GBU-39 glide bombs, navigation systems, sensor suites, mobile ground control systems and future integration of Indian weapon systems like
NASM-SR anti-ship missiles. On 29 July 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved few unknown amendments to the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) of the deal. This will be followed by granting of AoN by DAC and final clearance by CCS before signing of the deal. US has put a price tag of $3.9 billion, but price negotiation is on to reduce this value. The deal is expected to be concluded by December 2024 after receiving CCS clearance. The drones will be assembled in India and the first 10 units is to be delivered within few years of signing the deal. According to reports, the
Sarsawa AFS and
Gorakhpur AFS air bases are being upgraded for the joint deployment of MQ-9Bs of Indian Army and Indian Air Force. The Indian Navy will deploy these drones from
INS Rajali and
Porbandar Naval Air Enclave (NAE). The final deal signing is scheduled to be completed by the 31 October 2024 deadline. The deal is to be worth and includes an agreement to equip the drones with indigenous weapon system afterwards. The first UAV is to be delivered within about four years of contract signing while all 31 UAVs are to be delivered within 6 years. On 15 October 2024, India signed the deal for . The drones are to be built in India with 34% of its component sourced from local companies. A separate contract for the establishment of a depot-level MRO facility at the cost of was also be signed. The facility will provide performance-based logistics (PBL) for 8 years or 1.5
lakh flying hours, whichever is earlier. General Atomics will also provide expertise and consultancy to
DRDO to develop similar capable UAVs. Delivery will begin in 2029. On 20 March 2025, a report confirmed that while 10 of the drones would be delivered from General Atomics' facility in
San Diego in flyaway condition, the rest of the 21 units is to be assembled in India. General Atomics might offer the MQ9B-
AEW variant to India.
Italy On 1 August 2008, Italy submitted a FMS request through the
Defense Security Cooperation Agency for four aircraft, four ground stations and five years of maintenance support, all valued at US$330 million. Italy ordered two more aircraft in November 2009. On 30 May 2012, it was reported that the U.S. planned to sell kits to arm Italy's six Reapers with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs. However Gen. Alberto Rosso has expressed frustration at American delays in integrating additional weapons onto the platform and suggested that Italy may have to seek UAS alternatives. Italian Reapers were used: • In Libya, since 10 August 2011, as part of its contribution to NATO's Operation Unified Protector (flew about 300 hours) • In Kosovo, since 13 March 2012 inbound NATO KFOR "Joint Enterprise" operation • On "Mare Nostrum" mission (Mediterranean sea, migrants search and rescue operation) by October 2013 • Into Afghanistan theater by January 2014 (to replace Predator A+) On 3 November 2015, the U.S. approved a deal covering weapons integration onto Italy's Reaper aircraft, which would make it the first country outside the UK to weaponize the drone. The potential for increased contribution to NATO coalition operations, improved operational flexibility, and enhanced survivability for Italian forces prompted the request. On 20 November 2019, an Italian Air Force MQ-9 was shot down by a
Pantsir system operated by the
Libyan National Army or
Wagner Group, near the city of
Tarhuna, Libya. The
Libyan National Army claimed to have shot down the drone that, based on the initial reports, was thought to be a Turkish operated drone, supporting the opposed
Government of National Accord. The Italian Defense confirmed the loss stating the cause of the crash is under investigation. On 15 March 2026, amid the
2026 Iran war, one
Italian Air Force MQ-9 was destroyed on the ground by Iranian Ballistic missile and drone attacks at the
Ali Al Salem Air Base in
Kuwait.
Japan On 15 October 2020, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems conducted validation flights of the SeaGuardian UAV for the
Japan Coast Guard (JCG). The test flight was conducted at a
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) air base in
Hachinohe. Both the JCG and JMSDF have expressed interest in acquiring SeaGuardian UAVs in order to conduct more ocean surveillance. On 15 March 2023, the JMSDF will acquire an MQ-9B SeaGuardian for trials as part of its MALE RPAS Trial Operation Project.
Morocco After the
Israel–Morocco normalization agreement in 2020, the US is to approve the sale of four MQ-9B SeaGuardians to Morocco.
Netherlands On 19 June 2013, General Atomics and
Fokker Technologies signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer the MQ-9 Reaper to the Dutch government (
Second Rutte cabinet) to meet their need for a MALE UAV. The MOU recognizes that Fokker will assist in maintenance and support of the aircraft in the Netherlands if a deal goes through. On 21 November 2013, the
Dutch Minister of Defense announced that the
Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) had selected the MQ-9 Reaper Block-V as its new MALE UAV. The new MALE UAV 306 squadron will be based at
Leeuwarden Air Base. In July 2018, the
Dutch government signed a Letter of Acceptance for the acquisition through the Foreign Military Sales process. The Dutch MQ-9 is to have the Synthetic Aperture Radar with the Maritime Search option and also a special ground search radar with more range and electronic sensors to detect ground radar and signals. The RNLAF bought four ground stations (two at Home-base, two at forward operating base) and four MQ-9s Block-V. The aircraft are to reach full operational status in 2023. Four more systems are ordered, along with missiles and bombs.
Poland The
Polish Ministry of National Defense is currently operating an unspecified number of leased units since February 2023. On 12 December 2024, Poland signed a deal worth $310 million for three MQ-9B SkyGuardians with deliveries expected to start in 2027.
Spain On 6 August 2015, the
Spanish Ministry of Defence announced that the
First government of Mariano Rajoy had decided to buy four Reaper surveillance aircraft with two ground control stations for €25 million ($27 million) in 2016, costing €171 million over five years. General Atomics will partner with Spanish Company
SENER to deliver unarmed versions to Spain, making it the fifth European country to order the Reaper. In addition to selecting the Reaper, Spain is interested in the joint German-French-Italian project to develop a European MALE UAV. The Defense Department cleared the purchase on 6 October 2015. Spain selected the Reaper over the
Heron TP to perform
homeland security, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism operations. The Spanish government agreed to purchase the system on 30 October.
Taiwan On 3 November 2020, the
US State Department approved the sale of four MQ-9B, along with Control Stations and Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGI) with
Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) to
Taiwan.
United Arab Emirates On 10 November 2020, the US State Department approved the sale of up to 18 MQ-9Bs to the UAE pending approval by Congress.
United Kingdom On 27 September 2006, the U.S. Congress was notified by the
Defense Security Cooperation Agency that the United Kingdom (
Brown ministry) was seeking to purchase a pair of MQ-9A Reapers. They were initially operated by
No. 39 Squadron from
Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, later moving to
RAF Waddington. A third MQ-9A was in the process of being purchased by the RAF in 2007. In April 2008, following the crash of one of the UK's two Reapers, British special forces were sent to recover sensitive material from the wreckage before it was blown up to prevent the enemy from obtaining it. By May 2011, five Reapers were in operation, with a further five on order. The second RAF squadron to operate five Reapers is
No. XIII Squadron, which was formally activated and commissioned on 26 October 2012. No. 39 Squadron personnel were planned to gradually return to the UK in 2013 and in time both squadrons would each operate five Reapers from RAF Waddington. In April 2013, XIII Squadron started full operations from RAF Waddington, exercising control over a complement of 10 Reapers, at that point all based in Afghanistan. Five Reapers can provide 36 hours of combined surveillance coverage in Afghanistan with individual sorties lasting up to 16 hours. A further five vehicles increased this to 72 hours. In total, RAF Reapers flew 71,000 flight hours in Afghanistan, and dropped 510 guided weapons (compared to 497 for
Harrier and
Tornado). In April 2013, it was revealed that the MoD was studying the adoption of
MBDA's
Brimstone missile for the MQ-9. In December 2013, several successful test firings of the Brimstone missile from a Reaper at
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake were completed to support integration with RAF Reapers. Nine missiles were fired at an altitude of 20,000 ft, at distances of from the targets; all nine scored direct hits against static, accelerating, weaving, and fast remotely controlled targets. In 2014, the MoD decided that its Reaper fleet will be brought into the RAF's core fleet once operations over Afghanistan cease. Procurement of the MQ-9A was via an urgent operational capability requirement and funded from the Treasury reserve, but induction into the core fleet will have them funded from the MoD's budget. The Reapers were retained for contingent purposes, mainly to perform
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), until
its replacement enters service around 2018. On 4 October 2015 David Cameron announced that the RAF would replace its existing fleet of 10 Reapers with more than 20 of the "latest generation of RPAS", named as "Protector", On 16 October 2014, the MoD announced the deployment of armed Reapers in
Operation Shader, the UK's contribution to the
United States-led military intervention against Islamic State, the first occasion the UK had used its Reapers outside Afghanistan. The number of aircraft from the RAF's 10-strong fleet was not disclosed, but it was expected that at least two were sent; more were dispatched as the UK drew down from Afghanistan. The RAF Reapers' primary purpose is to provide surveillance support and situational awareness to coalition forces. On 10 November 2014, the MoD reported that an RAF Reaper had conducted its first airstrike against
Islamic State forces, firing a Hellfire missile at militants placing an IED near Bayji. RAF Reapers based at
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus conducted a single surveillance mission over Syria in November 2014, four in December 2014, and eight in January 2015. On 7 September 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that two Islamic State fighters from Britain had been killed in an intelligence-led strike by an RAF Reaper near Raqqa, Syria, the first armed use of RAF assets in Syria during the civil war. By January 2016, RAF Reapers had flown 1,000 sorties in support of Operation Shader. Compared to operations in Afghanistan, where RAF Reapers fired 16 Hellfire missiles in 2008, 93 in 2013, and 94 in 2014, in operations against ISIL, 258 Hellfires were fired in 2015. In September 2025, the Reaper was retired from RAF service and replaced by Protector.
Protector In April 2016, the United Kingdom announced that it intended to place an order for the Certifiable Predator B (MQ-9B) as part of its
Protector MALE UAV program for the
Royal Air Force. According to the
2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Royal Air Force was to operate at least 20 Protector systems by 2025, replacing all of the ten MQ-9A Reapers. The order was subsequently limited to 16 systems. In RAF service the aircraft would be designated as the Protector RG Mk 1 with aircraft to be acquired from 2018 to 2030 with the first delivery scheduled in 2023. On 15 July 2018, a GA-ASI Company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian was flown from the United States to
RAF Fairford in the UK for the first transatlantic flight of a MALE UAV. It was displayed at the
Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) air show, where the aircraft was given markings of
No. 31 Squadron. This followed an announcement by the RAF's
Chief of Air Staff that No. 31 Squadron would be the first RAF Squadron to operate a similar version of the MQ-9B aircraft, to be known as the Protector RG Mark 1 (RG1), starting in 2023. The squadron reformed at
RAF Waddington in October 2023. In July 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for three Protector UAVs with an option on an additional thirteen aircraft. It was announced in September 2021 that
No. XIII Squadron will become the second Protector squadron. RAF Waddington will also host an MQ-9B training school for both RAF and international operators as part of a larger investment into the base to facilitate MQ-9B operations. Protector will be able to carry up to 18
Brimstone 3 missiles or
Paveway IV bombs. The first of 16 Protector UAVs was delivered on 30 September 2023 with initial operating capability expected in 2025 and full operating capability expected from 2026. The
2025 UK defence review posited that Protector drones might add a maritime surveillance role to their capabilities by modifying the aircraft to incorporate additional pod-mounted radar systems. In October 2025, two Protector UAVs were reported deployed at
RAF Akrotiri located in the British
Sovereign Base Areas in
Cyprus.
Mojave In May 2023, the UK announced it would be acquiring a carrier-based variant of the MQ-9, the
General Atomics Mojave, for seven months of trials aboard its s.
Potential Operators Finland In Autumn 2021,
Finnish Defence Forces took part in test flights with the MQ-9.
Greece The
Hellenic Air Force is in discussions for the acquisition of at least three MQ-9 SeaGuardians.
Cancelled acquisitions Australia In September 2006, the General Atomics Mariner demonstrator aircraft was operated by the Australian
Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTO) in an exercise designed to evaluate the aircraft's ability to aid in efforts to stem
illegal fishing, drug running and illegal immigration. The Mariner operated from
Royal Australian Air Force bases
Edinburgh, South Australia and
Learmonth, Western Australia in conjunction with a
Royal Australian Navy Armidale class patrol boat, the
Joint Offshore Protection Command, and the
Pilbara Regiment. In February 2015, it was announced that six RAAF personnel had been sent to
Holloman AFB, New Mexico and
Creech AFB, Nevada to undergo training. In August 2015, it was revealed that Australians had begun flying MQ-9s over Syria, the first time Australia expanded operations past Iraq during the
Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Five RAAF personnel were embedded with the USAF
432nd Operations Group, which flies armed Reapers, performing operational duties with the unit as MQ-9 system pilots and sensor operators. In November 2018, the Defence Minister Christopher Pyne announced that Australia would purchase 12 to 16 MQ-9s. In November 2019, Australia announced the selection of the MQ-9B for its armed Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) RPAS requirement under Project Air 7003. In April 2021, the State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of 12 MQ-9B Reapers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.651 billion (~$ in ). The Australian Government cancelled the planned Reaper acquisition in March 2022. The funding intended for the project was redirected to expanding the
Australian Signals Directorate. ==Variants==