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Avalon 2019: Seeds sown for Team Reaper in Australia

1st March 2019 - 20:00 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Melbourne

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Team Reaper is preparing for business opportunities as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) edges closer to buying the MQ-9 Reaper armed MALE platform from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) under Project Air 7003.

Wg Cdr Mark Miles, the RAAF’s project manager for Air 7003, gave a briefing on the project at the Avalon Air Show. He described the air force’s UAV capability as an ‘empty fridge’ after the Heron was withdrawn from service in mid-2017.

The Reaper, which was down-selected last November after being delayed by IAI’s bid to push the Heron TP, will be Australia’s first UCAV.

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Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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