The MQ-9 will have enough range to strike deep into Russia and all the way to Moscow.

Negotiations with the manufacturer likely took place with the consent of the Biden administration / Photo: US National Guard

Ukraine is negotiating the purchase of US-made heavy attack drones MQ-9 Reaper (“Reaper”).

Forbes writes about it .

Last week, Ukrainian officials met in Washington with California-based manufacturer General Atomics. While the US government must approve any such sale, the publication likely notes that the talks with General Atomics took place with a “green light” from the Biden administration.

With the support of the US government, these drones could be in the hands of Ukrainian military pilots within a matter of days , said company spokesman K. Mark Brinkley.

Although the developer did not specify the model of the UAV that interested Ukraine, the publication believes that this is probably the time-tested Reaper.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a US Army modular reconnaissance and strike UAV. Equipped with a turboprop engine, allowing speeds of more than 400 km / h. 

The drone has six suspension points. It can carry up to 4 air-to-ground missiles, or up to 8 in the MQ-9A modification or 4 Hellfire missiles and two Mark 82 laser-guided bombs. 

Experts believe that the MQ-9 can dramatically change the course of the war. Compared with the Bayraktar, experts call the MQ-9 more durable in flight and less vulnerable to Russian fire.

“The Turkish drone has to operate close enough to the front line, which makes it more vulnerable to Russian air and missile strikes from airfields. However, the MQ-9 has a range from safer bases. And it is the reachability of the Reaper that can be of key importance,” – stated in the material.

The MQ-9 will have enough range to strike Russian military installations in Russia itself, up to and including Moscow itself.

Such drones require a year of military training, but General Atomics is confident that they can quickly teach Ukrainian fighters how to use them.

(C)UNIAN 2022