The RNLAF’s MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft can operate at a height of 50,000ft with 27 hours of endurance. Credit: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has handed over three MQ-9A Block 5 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).

The delivery also includes two mobile ground control stations (GCS) from the company.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

It is part of the US Air Force’s (USAF) foreign military sale (FMS) deal with the RNLAF.

Under the FMS, the RNLAF requested four MQ-9A aircraft, along with four GCSs and other support equipment from the USAF.

Following the agreement, GA-ASI produced the first aircraft and GCS for the RNLAF in 2021.

See Also:

The new GCS and aircraft will be used for conducting long-range, long-endurance surveillance missions.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In Curacao, the RPA will support the RNLAF’s mission to protect the Netherlands’ national interests.  

RNLAF 306 squadron commander lieutenant colonel Boudewijn Roddenhof said: “We are excited to receive our aircraft and start operating with them straightaway.

“The MQ-9A Reaper will be very valuable for information-driven operations with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Netherlands’ armed forces in general.

“We will operationally test and evaluate the system during our deployment to Curacao and expect it to be a valuable asset for the Commander of Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean.”

Separately, the Netherlands has deployed four F-35 fighter aircraft for Nato’s air policing mission in Bulgaria.

The four jets landed at Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on 6 April to join the Bulgarian Air Force for a period of two months, April and May.

The deployment comes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to support Nato’s collective response to the crisis.

The RNLAF F-35 fighter jets will conduct air policing operations together with the Alliance’s vigilance activities in the eastern allies’ airspace.