American MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft have arrived in Romania.
The US Air Force say that the MQ-9s have been operating out of Poland since May 2018, and this is the second time they have deployed to Campia Turzii.
“The first time was from July to August 2019 while the runway at Miroslawiec AB was undergoing construction.
This temporary move is expected to last through early spring and has been fully coordinated with the Romanian government. It is designed to promote stability and security within the region and to strengthen relationships with NATO allies and other European partners.”
With a range of 1,150 miles and the ability to fly at altitudes of 50,000 feet, the MQ-9 Reaper system is an ‘armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance’ remotely piloted aircraft designed primarily for offensive strikes, according to the US Air Force.
“Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons — it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets,” a fact sheet reads.
The aircraft is larger and more robust than its predecessor, the MQ-1 Predator, and is capable of hitting targets with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
