United Kingdom Phases Out MQ-9 Reaper Drone

After 18 years of service, the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom completed its final operational flight.

The Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom reported on this.

The Reaper was introduced into service in the UK in October 2007 to provide urgent support to British forces in Afghanistan.

Since then, the drones have participated in coalition combat operations as part of Operation Shader – countering ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Over the course of 18 years of service, they accumulated more than 173,000 flying hours.

“Over the last 18-years, the Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System has been the backbone of RAF operations in the Middle East. Its capabilities have been critical in supporting UK and Coalition forces, and it has made a significant contribution to the RAF’s ability to be Agile, Integrated and Ready to fly and fight. Amassing an astonishing number of operational flying hours, I am incredibly proud of all of the RAF personnel that have been involved in its highly skilled operation over so many years,” said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth.

The MQ-9 Reaper will be replaced by MQ-9B Protector RG1, which is based on the American MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone. In total, the UK Ministry of Defence has ordered 16 of these drones, which will gradually replace the 10 MQ-9A Reapers currently in service with the country’s Air Force.

The first MQ-9B drone was delivered to the Royal Air Force at the end of October 2023, with the full delivery expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

In February 2025, the delivered drone underwent flight tests, marking a key stage in the third phase of testing and evaluation.

A standout feature of the Protector is its integrated weapon system from the British company BAE Systems, which enables the use of Paveway IV guided bombs and Brimstone 2 multi-role missiles.

Unlike its predecessor, the Protector RG1 will be capable of carrying out tasks not only in the military domain but also for civilian purposes.

MQ-9B SkyGuardian

The MQ-9B is an upgraded version of MQ-9A, featuring a wingspan extended to 24 meters, along with increased range and flight endurance. The drone can remain airborne for up to 40 hours.

Other notable features include a high-resolution EO/IR Full Motion Video sensor, an anti-icing system, and an automatic takeoff and landing system.