WEAPONIZATION OF FRANCE MQ-9 BLOCK 1 AIRCRAFT (UCA)

The Department of the Air Force awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a $6.5 million contract to weaponize France's MQ-9 Block 1 aircraft through production and integration of weapon kits as part of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS). This effort equips the French Air Force's MQ-9 Reapers, initially unarmed and used for reconnaissance in operations like Serval in the Sahel region since 2014, with armaments to enable strike capabilities. The work supports France's transition from surveillance to armed drone operations, replacing older systems like the Harfang.