General Atomics awarded MQ-9 Reaper retrofit contract

General Atomics, Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a $43 million contract for MQ-9 Reaper field retrofit. General Atomics will provide retrofit kits for the MQ-9 Reaper Block 1 configuration aircraft with field retrofit capabilities. The work will be performed at Poway and is expected to be completed by July 5, 2017.

This contract award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal year 2013 funds in the amount of $27 million and fiscal year 2014 funds in the amount of $16 million are being obligated at the time of award. The contract is being managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (formerly named Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of remote controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed primarily for the U.S. Air Force.