REAPER For Falklands ? – In a Post Afghanistan world what are we going to do with the REAPER UAV (Unmanned Ariel Vehicles) that will soon equip 13 and 39 Squadrons (RAF) which are based at Waddington (Lincolnshire).   Currently 39 Squadron have their REAPER aircraft flying in Afghanistan but they area actually flown on missions from Creech (Nevada).   The additional REAPER units on order will equip 13 Squadron which was form this year.   The Guardian reports that the REAPER aircraft deployed in Afghanistan fired more than 280 HELLFIRE missiles at insurgents.     As at 31 May 2012, UK REAPER “aircraft” had flown more than 34,750 hours on operations, the majority of which were in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role, put another way that is equal to nears four years of continuous flying time.    REAPER operations started in Afghanistan in November 2007 and that translates into have one REAPER airborne at all times for almost five years!   REAPER aircrew have also deployed 281 weapons in response to requests for support from commanders on the ground.   REAPER is not an autonomous system and the aircraft do not have the capability to deploy weapons unless commanded to do so by the flight crew. The rules of engagement used for REAPER weapon releases are strictly defined and no different to those used for manned combat aircraft, with all weapons being precision guided.

One cannot help but think that the deployment of 13 Squadron to Ascension Island post 2016 would add greatly to our maritime capability in the South Atlantic, especially so that if from our scrapped NIMROD MR2 and MR4 fleets enough sensors had been “salved” to make a maritime pod that can be hung from a HELLFIRE missile point.   With Mount Pleasant able to act as an emergency or relief landing ground these “maritime” REAPERs the maritime security of the South Atlantic could move into a new phase.