The Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program office (PMA-266) welcomed a new program manager during change of command and retirement ceremony Sept. 18 inside Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX) 24's hangar, with the Marine Corps' MQ-9 Reaper in the backdrop.
Marine Col. Leigh Irwin relieved Navy Capt. Dennis Monagle, who is retiring after nearly three decades of honorable service.
The Marine Corps Aviation Association, John Glenn Squadron (MCAA JGS) in Patuxent River recently recognized high school graduates in the Southern Maryland tri-county area who plan to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)-based degrees with merit-based scholarships.
For 2024-2025 school year, MCAA JGS scholarship Committee selected 12 exceptional high school seniors to receive scholarships who were chosen based on their outstanding academic achievements and consistent dedication to community service.
Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. – The U.S. Marine Corps received its final MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Extended Range (ER) Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) Gray Butte flight operations facility in California in June 2025, marking the successful completion of a three-year acquisition campaign.
With 18 MQ-9As field to date, and now two more on the way, this final delivery represents a major milestone for Marine Corps aviation and reflects the effective collaboration between industry partners and the U.S. Air Force.
The Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems program office (PMA-266) recently delivered a cutting-edge aircraft towing solution to a Marine Corps squadron at Cherry Point, addressing urgent operational needs in record time.
Partnering with SupplyCore, the team delivered the TowFLEXX TF-3 Milspec, a remote-controlled aircraft tug, that allows a single operator to maneuver military aircraft with unprecedented precision, maintaining the aircraft's nose wheel alignment while enabling 360-degree turns in confined spaces.
The Navy’s MQ-9 Reaper test squadron at Pax River received the first SkyTower II (STII) pod in preparation for the system’s initial operational capability (IOC) next year.
Air Test and Evaluation (UX) 24 loaded the new pod onto the aircraft Feb. 25, conducting initial power on checks, the first step into integrating the new capability into the aircraft platform.
The Marine Corps recently received the first of eight MQ-9 Reapers, which was delivered under a joint contract with the U.S. Air Force.
The Navy’s Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air System program team (PMA-266) at Pax River leveraged the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution (ARES), an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract, to procure U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, associated spares, and support equipment for the Marine Corps.
The Navy recently awarded an $8.4 million dollar contract to multiple vendors for the Marine Corps’ MQ-9 Reaper Airborne Network Extension (ANE) Skytower II (STII).
Industry partners Global Air Logistics and Training (GALT), Northrop Grumman and L-3 Harris will perform work to develop the first phase of STII, a network pod that will add an additional capability to support the MQ-9 Reaper’s operational missions.
The Navy recently awarded a $135.8 million contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for eight MQ-9A Extended Range (ER) Unmanned Aircraft Systems that are scheduled for delivery to the Marine Corps in late 2023.
MQ-9A ER will provide a large scale, long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the Marine Expeditionary Force. It is designed to extend the aircraft's endurance to more than 30 hours and equipped with triple redundant avionics architecture.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout participated in the Resolute Hunter exercise June 21-July 1, flying a total of 23 hours and proving the unmanned helicopter’s expeditionary use from land and across multiple ship classes.
