First Reaper meets Dutch MoD requirements
The first MQ-9A Reaper UAV for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. (Photo: Dutch MoD)
The Netherlands will continue its acceptance flight programme for MQ-9A Reaper UAVs.
The Netherlands MoD has officially received the first MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper ISR UAV for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), following the completion of acceptance flights.
Four MQ-9As have been acquired for the RNLAF from General Atomics under a $123 million contract sealed in 2018.
‘With other aircraft there are also acceptance flights next week,’ the MoD noted in a 3 February statement. ‘If these are successful, the Ministry of Defence will station the Reapers on Curaçao’ for operational test and evaluation activities at Hato Airport.
‘Thereafter, the MQ-9 will perform support tasks for the Commander Navy Caribbean and the Coast Guard Caribbean,’ the MoD added.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
MQ-9A Reaper (First Batch) [Netherlands]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms]()
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms
The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
-
![ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025]()
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025
India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
-
![Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market]()
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
