UK procures further two Reapers

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is set to expand its fleet of Predator B (MQ-9 Reaper) UAVs to five after Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) agreed the purchase of two more airframes from the US.

Speaking at an Air Power Association luncheon in London on 4 September Air Marshal Sir Barry Thornton, the Ministry of Defence's Chief of Material (Air), confirmed that the UK had agreed the purchase of two further aircraft.

He also added that a third aircraft, to replace the one that crashed in April this year, is due in theatre in January.

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