Rearm: ⚡️🇮🇹🛩️ Italy has ordered two new MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 military dro...

⚡️🇮🇹🛩️ Italy has ordered two new MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 military drones from the United States, which will be delivered to the Air Force by the end of 2027 for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in the Mediterranean and within NATO.

🔻The value of the order has not been disclosed. In 2024 Washington had, however, authorized the possible sale to Italy of up to six MQ-9 Block 5 drones, along with related equipment, for a total estimated value of 738 million dollars.

🔻Of the six Reapers previously purchased by Italy, one was lost in Libya in 2019 and another was destroyed last March during an Iranian attack in Kuwait. The four remaining aircraft are currently being upgraded to Block 5 standard, which enhances their operational capabilities, under a contract worth 30.5 million dollars.