General Atomics' MQ-9 Reaper
The Pentagon plans to increase its fleet of armed and long endurance surveillance drones by 45 per cent over the next decade. As per the Department of Defense, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the US military will increase to 645 aircraft in fiscal 2012 from 445 in fiscal 2013, including versions of Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk and General Atomics’ MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator. In addition, the US Army plans to buy 164 Gray Eagle drones from General Atomics in this period. Drones are playing an increasing role as the Pentagon seeks a force that will be “smaller and leaner” and more technologically advanced.
Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Block 10 Global Hawk
The Pentagon is cutting $487 billion from its spending over the next decade and may face cuts of additional $500 billion to reduce deficit. The Defense Department plans to spend $770 billion in the period 2013 to 2022 to procure air assets including bombers, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, cargo aircraft, combat search and rescue aircraft, flight refuelling aircraft, anti-ship and submarine aircraft, drones, training platforms and Special Operations aircraft. According to the Pentagon, annual funding levels will peak at $80 billion in 2022.
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