Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category.
01 / Overview
MQ-9 Reaper
Country
Production
2007–
Quantity
575
Unit Price (current)
$16.0M
Original Price
$16.0M (2026)
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES · POST-COLD WAR
5
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
80
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$16.0M
Original: $16.0M (2026)
Inflation: +%0
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- UAV ClassMedium-altitude long-endurance UAV
- Category (MALE/HALE/Tactical/Micro)Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drones
- First Flight2001
- Service Entry Year2007
- Primary Rolehunter-killer
- In ServiceYes
◈Airframe6MOD.6
- Length11 m
- Wingspan20 m
- Height3.81 m
- Empty Weight2,223 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight4,760 kg
- Low ObservableNo
▣Powerplant5MOD.5
- Engine TypeHoneywell TPE331-10
- Number of Engines1
- Engine Power671 kW
- Electric PropulsionNo
- Propeller / Configurationpusher
◇Performance7MOD.7
- Top Speed482 km/h
- Cruise Speed313 km/h
- Service Ceiling15,420 m
- Range1,852 km
- Endurance27
- Combat / Operating Radius740 km
- Maximum Payload1,700 kg
◆Payload & Sensors6MOD.6
- EO/IR SensorYes
- SAR / GMTI RadarYes
- SIGINT PayloadYes
- Laser DesignatorYes
- Sensor Payload Weight800 kg
- Comms RelayYes
▤Armament5MOD.5
- ArmedYes
- Hardpoints4
- Weapons Payload1,700 kg
- Weapon TypesAGM-114 Hellfire, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM
- Air-to-Ground MissilesYes
⬢Control & Autonomy5MOD.5
- Control Typeremotely piloted
- Satellite (BLOS) LinkYes
- Autonomous CapableNo
- Swarming CapableNo
- Automatic Takeoff/LandingYes
▲Production4MOD.4
- Total Built575
- Unit Cost16,000,000 USD
- Operators12
- Variants2
◎Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year2035
- Production Start2001
- Production End2026
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 2007Production started
19
years in service
575
units produced
18
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
MQ-9 REAPER · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
7
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
2025–2025 Shabelle offensive—→2023–2025Operation Prosperity Guardian—→2014–2017Iraqi Civil War of 2014–2017—→2014–2022Opération Barkhane—→2011–War in the Sahel—→20112011 military intervention in Libya—→2001–2014Operation Enduring Freedom—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Inventory10country · 51units
51active
06 / MASS Score
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES RANKING Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drones · Post-Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
15RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES5POST-COLD WAR · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES342UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS4PRICE · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES274PRICE · ALL WEAPONS126PERFORMANCE/PRICE · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES
ⓘ Rankings are within theReconnaissance / Surveillance Dronescategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE9terms
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
Operational state of a drone where weapons systems are enabled and ready for engagement.
Automatic Takeoff/Landing is a UAV capability that enables a drone to initiate and complete takeoff and landing sequences autonomously using onboard sensors and control software.
A capability enabling drones to relay communication signals between units, extending operational range and maintaining network connectivity in combat environments.
Electro-optical/infrared sensor combining daylight cameras and thermal imagers for real-time target detection, tracking, and identification in military drones.
A device that emits a laser beam to mark targets for precision-guided munitions, enabling accurate strikes by designating coordinates for laser-homing weapons.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar are airborne radar systems used to detect, track, and image moving or stationary targets on the ground, regardless of weather or lighting conditions.
A communication link between a drone and its control station via satellite relay, enabling beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources