MQ-9 reaper FMS united kingdom - second operation location/alternate reaper (solar) aircraft

The Department of the Air Force awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a $12,954,626 contract to procure a Second Operation Location/Alternate Reaper (SOLAR) aircraft as part of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Kingdom. This procurement supports the UK Royal Air Force's transition from the MQ-9A Reaper fleet to the next-generation MQ-9B Protector system, which offers greater endurance (40+ hours), higher altitude capability (40,000+ feet), and increased payload capacity (4,750 lbs). The contract is part of ongoing support for UK air operations and the broader modernization of British remotely piloted aircraft systems.