UK launches drone 'user club'
2024-08-10
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MQ-9 drone. Image courtesy of General Atomics
Comprehensive compilation Dong Chenchen
The MQ-9 UAV of General Atomics of the United States is regarded as the "image spokesperson" of the dual-purpose reconnaissance/attack UAV. Recently, with the support of NATO, the British Air Force announced the establishment of the MQ-9 "User Club". This mechanism, officially named "International Cooperation Support Partnership", is open to the world. Countries that are using the MQ-9 UAV or are interested in purchasing it can get "admission tickets" and receive personnel training and other services in the UK.
The popularity of reconnaissance/attack drones has brought business opportunities to the aftermarket. According to the U.S. Defense News website, the United Kingdom has been operating an international cooperation program around the MQ-9 since 2019, focusing on training, certification, maintenance support and technical upgrades related to the aircraft. Over the past five years, this multinational project has attracted the participation of 10 countries, "Belgium and the United Kingdom as formal partners, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and Norway as observers, and later Qatar and Sweden were added as observers." People familiar with the matter said that there is almost no obligation to join the program as an observer, "as long as you are interested in purchasing MQ-9 drones."
The newly established "International Cooperation Support Partnership" is an upgraded version of this mechanism. The British Air Force said it will deepen cooperation among member states. Countries joining this mechanism can make full use of the UK's accumulated expertise in drone operations and logistics support, and have the opportunity to send air and ground personnel to the British Air Force Waddington Base in Lincolnshire to participate in NATO's drone system training.
According to General Atomics, the latest MQ-9B drone can cruise continuously for 40 hours and has a license to operate in civilian airspace, which means it is less restricted in daily training.
Defense News said that some Nordic countries have shown interest in purchasing the MQ-9 series of drones, but the military of these countries believes that the high price of this type of drone makes the outside world feel that it lacks cost-effectiveness. Swedish Air Force Commander Jonas Vikman said that Sweden has not yet decided to purchase this type of drone, "mainly because it does not fit our budget."
In April this year, Norway announced that it would purchase a batch of long-range drones to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities and may choose between Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C and MQ-9B.
Norway's mainstream media Aftenposten published a commentary saying that for a resource-scarce country like Norway, General Atomics' drones are "cost-effective" and have longer flight time, which are two particularly critical points.
A senior adviser to the Norwegian Minister of Defense later issued a statement saying that one of the prerequisites for establishing long-range drone combat capabilities is that "this project must be implemented as part of a multinational cooperation mechanism... This may involve training, operations and development with close allies." The official stressed that Norway has not yet decided with whom to cooperate.
Source: China Youth Daily Client
