Air Force, Marines Train To Make MQ-9 Reaper Expeditionary

An Air Force MQ-9 was refueled on the ground by a Marine MV-22 Osprey, marking the first time an MQ-9 received fuel from a joint platform.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, August 05, 2022 at 04:21 PM ET

Verified

An MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 163 Attack Wing, March Air Reserve Base stages for refueling on the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on July 21. [Courtesy: U.S. Air National Guard / Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Marines successfully refueled an Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper from a Marine MV-22 Osprey during a joint training exercise in Southern California.
This event marked the first time an MQ-9 UAV received fuel from a joint platform and only the second time it was refueled by another aircraft.
The training focused on developing expeditionary operating procedures for the MQ-9 in austere locations, critical for future joint force operations away from traditional air bases.
This exercise is particularly relevant as the Marine Corps recently acquired its own MQ-9 Reapers, transitioning to government-operated UAVs for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

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U.S. Marines recently topped off the fuel of a California Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper on a Southern California airfield during a joint training exercise, marking a significant milestone.

Airmen from the 163rd Attack Wing joined Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764 in late July for the Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 held at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California.