At the United States Air National Guard Reserve Command and Test Center
What is known
The tests took place as part of the Valiant Shield exercise inearly summer of 2022, but we have only now learned the results. For testing, the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (a division of General Dynamics) was used.
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As part of the tests, the shock drone successfully launchedAGM-114 Hellfire R-4 missile. This is an improved version of the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. It has an extended launch range. According to the manufacturer, the missile is capable of flying three times as far as previous versions, but as part of tests from the MQ-9 Reaper drone, the military wanted to double the launch range.
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Use of AGM-114 Hellfire R-4 missiles,likely aimed at extending the life of the MQ-9 Reaper drones. According to the US military, they are forced to use General Atomics drones less often because of their vulnerability in conflicts when the enemy has a normal air defense system.
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MQ-9 Reaper can launch conventional missilesAGM-114 Hellfire at 8-11 km. This means that during the exercises, the drone was able to hit a target at a distance of 16-22 km, while the maximum launch range of the R-4 modification is 24-33 km.
Source: The Drive