Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
France Arms Its Reapers: Netherlands Signs for Four
GA-ASI's MQ-9 and its derivatives have proved a hit in Europe, where France is now adding weapons capability and where the Netherlands has ordered the type
France's Reapers—currently only with an ISR capability—have been used intensively during French operations in the Sahel region of Africa. (photo: Hugues Gillot/ECPAD)
France's Reapers—currently only with an ISR capability—have been used intensively during French operations in the Sahel region of Africa. (photo: Hugues Gillot/ECPAD)

A weapons integration contract has been awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) for the French air force’s fleet of MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, which will lead to the nation joining an exclusive number of users that operate an armed variant of the type. To date, only the U.S. Air Force and the UK Royal Air Force operate weaponized versions of the Reaper, although an appetite from the U.S. government to open this remit to other allied nations that operate surveillance-only versions has led to a number of authorizations being made for weapons integration.