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US Marines' MQ-9A Reaper Combat Drone Completes Qualification Flight Under MAGTF Program.
On November 20, 2024, the United States Marine Corps integrated the MQ-9A Reaper drone into its operations for the first time. This development was marked by the first flight of the MQ-9A conducted by the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2 (VMUT-2) at Cherry Point Air Station, symbolizing the official adoption of this next-generation combat drone by the Marines.
USMC MQ-9A Reaper Combat and ISR drone (Picture source: US DoD)
The MQ-9A Reaper, already successfully used by the U.S. Air Force and other branches of the armed forces, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike missions. However, its adoption by the Marine Corps represents a significant evolution. Unlike the strategic, long-range use by the Air Force, the Marines will focus on expeditionary and tactical missions, providing direct support to ground forces. The Marine Corps plans to use the Reaper primarily for communication relay, electronic warfare, and maritime surveillance missions in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with their focus on expeditionary and tactical operations.
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) program is a strategic initiative by the Marine Corps to integrate medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS into their expeditionary operations. Designed to enhance surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities, this program directly supports the missions of the MAGTF, the Marine Corps’ fundamental unit combining ground, air, and logistics capabilities.
The concept for the MUX program emerged in 2016 when the Marine Corps identified the need for a UAS capable of operating in austere and remote environments. Initially, the goal was to develop a Group 5 UAS, the largest and most sophisticated in its category, capable of high-altitude, long-endurance missions. By 2018, concrete plans began to take shape, but in 2020, the Marine Corps decided to shift the program toward a more flexible and modular approach. This new direction aimed to combine land-based aerial vehicles with extended endurance and smaller systems suited for shipboard operations.
To address immediate needs, the Marine Corps began acquiring MQ-9A Reapers in 2021, a proven drone already employed by the Air Force. By July 2023, the Marines had accumulated over 20,000 flight hours with the MQ-9A, demonstrating its effectiveness and reliability in expeditionary environments. In August 2023, the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 (VMU-3) achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the MQ-9A Extended-Range, marking a major milestone in the integration of this drone within Marine Corps forces.
The MQ-9A drone boasts impressive capabilities, including a flight endurance of over 20 hours, a range exceeding 1,600 miles, and advanced sensors that support a wide range of missions, from maritime surveillance to electronic warfare. Its integration into the MAGTF Unmanned Expeditionary program strengthens the Marine Corps' goal of modernizing its capabilities and achieving technological superiority on the battlefield.
To facilitate the integration of the MQ-9A Reaper, VMUT-2 (formerly VMU-2) was designated as a Fleet Replacement Squadron in July 2023. This role positions VMUT-2 as a central unit for training Marine Corps pilots and sensor operators. The first class of trainees will begin their program in the spring of 2025, laying the groundwork for the full and effective utilization of this drone by operational Marine Corps units.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Boersma, commanding officer of VMUT-2, hailed this achievement as a key milestone: “The first flight of the MQ-9A from VMUT-2 is a historic milestone that reflects the determination and teamwork of our Marines. This accomplishment is more than a technical success; it represents a bold step forward in the future of unmanned aerial systems within the Marine Corps.”
The integration of the MQ-9A Reaper into Marine Corps operations reflects a strategic vision aimed at addressing modern challenges. This drone will enhance the Marines’ ability to operate in austere and expeditionary environments, providing effective support to ground forces and contributing to joint operations.
This decision also underscores the Marines' commitment to adapting to the evolving nature of conflict, where unmanned systems play an increasingly critical role. The addition of the MQ-9A Reaper, a proven and reliable system, marks a pivotal step in modernizing their aerial capabilities while enhancing their operational versatility.
With this successful first flight at Cherry Point, the Marine Corps enters a new phase where innovation and technology are central to their operational doctrine. The MQ-9A Reaper becomes a symbol of this transition, enabling the Marines to face the challenges of modern battlefields with advanced tools tailored to their mission.
Before the integration of the MQ-9A Reaper, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) operated with limited capability in terms of long-range unmanned aerial systems. They primarily relied on tactical drones, such as the RQ-21A Blackjack, suited for reconnaissance and surveillance missions at short to medium distances. While effective within their scope, these systems could not provide the advanced strategic and operational capabilities of the MQ-9A Reaper.
In the absence of an advanced system like the Reaper, the Marines often depended on the U.S. Air Force and its MQ-9A drones for strategic missions, including long-duration surveillance, precision strikes, and large-scale intelligence collection. This reliance created logistical and operational limitations, as Air Force resources were generally allocated to broader strategic priorities that were not tailored to the expeditionary needs of the Marines.
For example, during combined operations, the Marines had to coordinate with the Air Force or other branches, such as the Navy, to secure extended aerial coverage or precision strike capability. This often led to delays in decision-making or restrictions on resource access due to inter-service priorities.
Before this evolution, the Marine Corps emphasized a heavily autonomous tactical approach. Their manned aviation assets, such as the F/A-18 Hornet and AH-1Z Viper helicopters, provided immediate and direct support to ground troops. However, these platforms lacked the persistence and long-duration surveillance capabilities offered by a drone like the MQ-9A.
The Marines also utilized small tactical drones such as the Puma or Switchblade, but these systems were mainly designed for local, short-range missions, insufficient to cover large areas or address complex threats in expeditionary environments.
With the integration of the MQ-9A Reaper, the Marines finally acquire a strategic and autonomous capability that reduces their reliance on other branches. This drone provides exceptional flight endurance (over 20 hours) and a range of more than 1,600 miles, enabling continuous surveillance, strikes, and intelligence collection.
The introduction of the Reaper also addresses the growing need for the Marines to operate in contested and expeditionary environments, often far from direct support from other military branches. This autonomy enhances their ability to respond rapidly to threats and adapt strategies in real-time while expanding their operational scope to areas where logistics and inter-service coordination may be challenging.