NEWTOWN, Conn. - France is expected to receive two MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and a single ground control station (GCS) from the United States, according to Liberation, a daily French newspaper. The French government requested these UAVs after its military intervention in Mali. The UAVs could arrive in Mali for use by the French military before the end of 2013.
France has long been considering the acquisition of a new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle. Previously, France dropped a plan to purchase the Reaper in favor of acquiring the Israeli-built Heron TP. However, the new Socialist government in France, elected in June 2012, decided against procurement of the Heron TP. The French government may extend its contract with EADS for the Harfang UAV.
These deliveries will be the first in a much larger deal to provide France with a new MALE UAV, according to Liberation. Israel and the United States were both offering MALE UAVs to France.
Source: Forecast Intelligence Center
Associated URL:
http://www.forecastinternational.com
Author: L. Dickerson, Unmanned Vehicles
