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Spain plans Predator drone purchase

By Richard Tomkins
The "B" variant of the Predator remotely piloted aircraft. Photo by GA-ASI
The "B" variant of the Predator remotely piloted aircraft. Photo by GA-ASI

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Spain's Defense Ministry has decided to acquire Predator B remotely piloted aircraft, designated MQ-9 Reaper in the United States, from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

GA-ASI said the system consists of four aircraft equipped with MTS-B Electro-optical/Infrared sensors and GA-ASI's Block 20A Lynx multi-mode radar, two Block 30 ground control stations, and satellite communications and line-of-sight data link capabilities.

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The Predator B system will be obtained by Spain through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

Support services in Spain for the Predator system are to be provided by SENER, a Spanish engineering company.

"GA-ASI is proud to partner with the Spanish Armed Forces to offer our operationally proven Predator B RPA to fulfill Spain's emerging multi-mission requirements," said Linden Blue, GA-ASI chief executive officer. "We also look forward to working with teammate SENER, a leading engineering company, and developing collaborative partnerships with other Spanish companies to help ensure the long-term success of the program."

The multi-mission Predator B is a long-endurance, medium-high-altitude drone with an internal and external payload capacity of 850 pounds. It has a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet and a flight endurance of as much as 27 hours.

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The aircraft is operated by the U.S. Air Force and by the air forces of Britain, France and Italy.

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