Two Block 5 aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027
Italy has ordered two additional MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 drones from General Atomics, with delivery scheduled for the end of 2027. The purchase comes as the United States Air Force expresses concern over the growing number of drones of this type lost during operations in Iran.
The Italian Air Force has operated the MQ-9A platform for more than 20 years, using it for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in Italy, across the Mediterranean and in support of NATO operations.
The value of the latest contract has not been disclosed. The order follows the approval, in August 2024, of a Foreign Military Sale allowing Italy to acquire up to six MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated equipment. The total package was estimated at $738 million, or approximately €634 million.
Italy’s fleet has suffered several losses
Rome purchased its first four Block 1 Reapers in 2008 and ordered two additional aircraft in 2009. The Italian fleet has suffered several operational losses in recent years.
One of the drones was lost in Libya in 2019. Another aircraft was destroyed in March during an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.
Italy is upgrading the remaining aircraft to the Block 5 standard under a contract signed in 2021. The agreement is valued at $30.5 million.
The United States accelerates plans to replace lost drones
Italy’s latest purchase comes as the United States Air Force describes the pace of MQ-9 losses in Iran as concerning.
During a Pentagon briefing on September 3, Lieutenant General Christopher Niemi, the US Air Force’s chief modernization officer, said that officials were considering accelerating the drone replacement program.
Although the United States still operates a substantial number of MQ-9A aircraft, the official warned that the fleet is being depleted at a troubling rate. According to figures available through August 2026, at least 45 Reapers had been destroyed or lost since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury in February. The number represents approximately one-quarter of the US inventory.
Manufacturer highlights the Reaper’s capabilities
Despite the recent losses, the American manufacturer continues to defend the Reaper’s operational effectiveness. The aircraft combines long endurance, extended range, payload capacity, advanced sensors, weapons, connectivity, adaptability and reliability.
According to the company, this combination enables the MQ-9A to perform missions that other platforms struggle to replicate with the same level of effectiveness.
For Italy, expanding the fleet represents an investment in national surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as a reinforcement of its contribution to NATO operations in the Mediterranean region.
