The US has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems a $14.3-million contract modification to sustain and maintain the Italian Air Force’s MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) fleet.
General Atomics was tapped for the cost-plus fixed-fee update to an existing Foreign Military Sales contract, which exercises an option year tied to ongoing support activities.
Operations under this modification will take place in Poway, California, Italy, and Kuwait.
Logistics support and software maintenance services funded under this award are intended to ensure continued readiness and availability of the remotely piloted aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and other missions.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio is overseeing the contract, and the full $14.3 million has already been obligated. Work under this sustainment option is expected to conclude by January 31, 2027.
What the MQ-9 Brings to Italy’s Air Force
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.
Built by General Atomics, the aircraft can remain airborne for more than 24 hours and carries a mix of electro-optical sensors, radar, and precision-guided weapons, depending on configuration and authorization.
Italy has operated MQ-9 aircraft for more than a decade, initially using them in an unarmed surveillance role.
Over time, the fleet has evolved through a series of US-approved upgrades, including improved sensors, secure satellite communications, and the ability to integrate precision munitions.
