MQ-9 REAPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL NETWORK RETROFIT, SECTION 889

The Department of the Air Force is procuring an MQ-9 Reaper aircraft control network retrofit from L3 Technologies, Inc., valued at USD 12,211,086.43, to upgrade the ground control station (GCS) network capabilities for remotely piloted aircraft systems used in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. This retrofit falls under Section 889, which prohibits procurement of certain telecommunications equipment from specific foreign entities to ensure national security compliance. The MQ-9 Reaper system relies on GCS for launch/recovery and mission control via datalinks, supporting strategic operations with enhanced endurance and payload.