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French Reaper purchase confirmed

26th September 2013 - 13:19 GMT | by Beth Stevenson in London

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The French Air Force has revealed that is has begun MQ-9 Reaper training in anticipation of its first delivery, thereby confirming the purchase of the UAV from the US.

In June, it was announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US Government, which was expected to cost $1.5 billion, but since then neither country has been willing to confirm the purchase. Neither the US DoD nor the French MoD made themselves available to confirm the deal. Manufacturer of the MQ-9, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, was also unable to comment.

However, on 24

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Author

Beth Stevenson

Beth is a former senior reporter for Digital Battlespace and Unmanned Vehicles magazines. Beth graduated …

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