GA-ASI has flown an MQ-9B powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E turboprop.
RAF FAIRFORD, England—A new engine war is brewing for the MQ-9 Reaper after General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) flew a second engine type onboard the medium-altitude, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) earlier this month.
“It took us 23 years to finally get a second engine on the MQ-9,” GA-ASI President Dave Alexander says during an interview at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
The second engine to fly on the Reaper is the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E, a 1,200-shp-class turboprop featuring two-channel, full-authority digital engine controls.
The PT6E offers 30% more power on the MQ-9 than the original Honeywell TPE331 turboprop, an engine that Alexander also supports.
“The Honeywell is a great engine, don’t get me wrong,” he says.
The PT6E still needs to be certified on the MQ-9, but Alexander says the requirements are not significant.
GA-ASI integrated the PT6E as the Royal Canadian Air Force was deciding to acquire a fleet of MQ-9Bs. So far, the Canadian government has not selected an engine. If the PT6E is selected, the acquisition of the engine and follow-on maintenance services by Canadian suppliers will contribute to meeting GA-ASI’s offset agreement.
The additional power of the PT6E affords the MQ-9 additional thrust at altitude and during climb-out after a short take-off roll, Alexander says.
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