Reaper Boss Tells Europe: Forget MALE, Do UCAS Instead
One of only two U.S. Military aircraft that are on static display here, the MQ-9 Reaper is gaining more customers in Europe. (Photo: David McIntosh)
One of only two U.S. Military aircraft that are on static display here, the MQ-9 Reaper is gaining more customers in Europe. (Photo: David McIntosh)

Europe should stop trying to build a “me-too” version of the Reaper Male unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and concentrate instead on a stealthy unmanned combat air system (UCAS), because the U.S. will not export that technology. That was the advice offered at the Paris Air Show yesterday by Frank Pace, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (Hall 3 Stand A82). As for the thorny issue of certification, that was no justification for a new European program either because–he revealed–General Atomics had started a drive to certify the Reaper to the appropriate NATO Standardization Agreement (Stanag).