In Greece, near the city of Larissa, an American drone base will be created, where the MQ-9 Reaper ("Reaper") UAVs will be located. This is reported by the Greek newspaper Parapolitika.
It will be created on the basis of the Greek 110th fighter aviation regiment. Eight improved MQ-9 Reapers have already been placed there. In addition, the Greek Armed Forces are negotiating the purchase of three such UAVs.
According to the newspaper, the drones will be designed for patrolling in the Aegean Sea. They will not carry weapons, although they can carry air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles. Previously stationed in Greece, MQ-9s monitored areas of North Africa and Yemen due to the ongoing civil war there.
The agreement on the base provides for its operation for the next year, but it can be extended.
The MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike drone made its first flight back in 2001. The UAV received a synthetic aperture radar, a sighting station and six weapon suspension points.
In October, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed an agreement to lease a set of MQ-9A Reaper reconnaissance and strike drones from the American company General Atomics.
