Role & capabilities
- Multirole aircraft
- Runway operation
- EO/IR; Lynx radar and other optional mission sensors
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Multirole aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
- Origin / production countries
- United States
- Other names
- Predator B
- Variants / configurations
- MQ-9A; MQ-9A Extended Range
- Operators / programme customers
- US Air Force; other customers depend on configuration
Evidence & current status
The cited public record documents military use or operator acceptance. Specifications still depend on the particular production version and mission configuration.
Role & programme
A turboprop remotely piloted aircraft for persistent reconnaissance and multirole missions. MQ-9A and its extended-range retrofit are distinct from the newer MQ-9B family.
GA-ASI describes more than 27 hours of endurance for the baseline aircraft and 34 hours for the extended-range retrofit. Those are different configurations, not simultaneous performance guarantees. The US Air Force fact sheet supplies service context and dimensions. Its payload figure differs from the manufacturer page, so the table identifies which source is used. Airframe performance does not describe the availability of a particular sensor, communications fit or customer integration.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe | Fixed-wing, turboprop remotely piloted aircraft | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Launch / recovery | Runway operation | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Propulsion | Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | 20.1 m span; 11 m length | USAF fact-sheet dimensions. Source ↗ |
| Mass | 4,760 kg maximum take-off mass; ER 5,307 kg | Baseline and ER are separate configurations. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | More than 27 h baseline; 34 h with ER retrofit | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Range | 1,000 nmi baseline; 1,400 nmi ER | Published aircraft range, not mission radius. Source ↗ |
| Speed | 240 KTAS maximum | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Altitude | Up to 50,000 ft | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Payload | 1,746 kg total capacity (GA-ASI figure) | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | EO/IR; Lynx radar and other optional mission sensors | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / navigation | Ground-control system and satellite communications | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
Publication history
- — Expanded catalogue profile with sourced specifications, variant distinctions, programme evidence and explicit public data gaps.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- Manufacturer product information (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme source
- US Air Force MQ-9 fact sheet (opens in a new tab)Government / operator