The French Air and Space Force is expanding the MQ-9 Reaper’s role into an airborne “hunter” platform, testing a new counter-drone capability during a recent live-fire trial.
Conducted at the Île du Levant range, the large drone successfully engaged a designated target believed to replicate a Banshee-type system using a HELLFIRE missile.
The capability upgrade stems from operational work by crews of the 33rd Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Attack Wing (ESRA) under the CEAM Weapons School framework.
According to the press release, integration took three months after the missile entered French service on the Reaper, extending its use beyond ground strike missions.
The move is intended to support layered air defense alongside systems such as Rafale fighters, Fennec helicopters, surface-to-air missile systems, and dedicated counter-drone assets.
Beyond ISR and Strike
The MQ-9 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft capable of flying for more than 27 hours.
With a wingspan of 66 feet (20 meters), it can cruise at up to 230 miles (370 kilometers) per hour and operate at altitudes reaching 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
The HELLFIRE missile weighs about 50 kilograms (109 pounds), measures 163 centimeters (64 inches) in length, and has a diameter of 17.8 centimeters (7 inches).
It carries a multi-purpose warhead and can engage targets from multiple approach angles.
Together, the pairing extends the MQ-9’s mission set beyond intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and ground strike, adding a more flexible option for tackling aerial threats.
