THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Netherlands plans to procure four MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft systems from the United States for use by its military.
Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, in a letter to the lower house of parliament, said about $336 million has been put aside to purchase the aircraft through the U.S. Military Sales program.
The unmanned system would not only be used in military deployment areas but also in missions supporting civil authorizes -- humanitarian relief, for example, and spotting drug cultivation sites.
"The Reaper is an unmanned aircraft that is available 24 hours a day, and can be used virtually anywhere the world; only part of its crew need to be present in-theater," she said. "Defense will buy the unmanned aircraft off the shelf. By the end of 2017, the system will be fully integrated in the armed forces."
The MQ-9 Reaper, larger than the MQ-1 Predator, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance system manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
