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SAN DIEGO, June 2 (UPI) -- A third MQ-9 Reaper has been delivered to the French Ministry of Defense by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. GA ASI said the remotely piloted aircraft was delivered in less than two months from the awarding of a contract for the Reaper and is the third acquired by France.
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The French military plans a fleet 12 MQ-9s by the year 2019.
"This latest order from the French Defense Procurement and Technology Agency (Direction Générale de l'Armement – DGA) is a testament to Reaper's ability to enhance the ISR of the French Air Force in support of national, NATO, and other coalition operations," said Frank W. Pace, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI.
ISR stands for Intelligence, surveillance and Reconnaissance.
The multi-mission MQ-9 Reaper is a long-endurance, medium-high-altitude RPA for ISR and targeting missions. It has a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet and a flight endurance of as much as 27 hours. It is flown by the United States, Britain, and Italy, as well as France.
The aircraft was formerly known as the Predator B.
