MQ-9 Reaper lands on land for first time

The MQ-9 Reaper is a lightly armed bomber UAV.

Insider reported on June 20 that during a drill on June 15 of the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), US commandos successfully landed an MQ-9 Reaper UAV on a remote dirt runway near Stockton base in western Texas.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a military UAV that typically takes off and lands on traditional runways. With its new capabilities, the MQ-9 Reaper can now operate anywhere in the world.

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“This is a significant accomplishment for the Air Force Reserve Command, AFSOC, the MQ-9 community and the joint force,” said Lt. Col. Brian Flanigan, operations commander of the 2nd Special Operations Squadron.

Lt. Col. Flanigan added that the additional squadrons have proven that the MQ-9 Reaper can operate anywhere in the world and is no longer limited to concrete runways and the need for antenna systems as it has been in the past.

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According to Insider , threats from adversaries are forcing the US military to find ways to operate outside the confines of traditional bases and runways, which are more likely to be attacked if a conflict breaks out. For the US Air Force, this means finding ways to fight from less favorable positions if it wants to increase the force's endurance and survivability.

During the June 15 exercise, the US Air Force also applied creative ways to deploy this type of UAV, such as the MQ-9 being able to resupply units waiting at the ground landing zone.

Previously, in May, the MQ-9 Reaper also landed on a highway for the first time during an exercise in rural Wyoming, alongside the MC-130J Commando II transport aircraft and the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.

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