Netherlands to field four MQ-9 Reaper drones by 2017

[nonmember]Page 3 of this article is open to subscribers only[nonmember][ismember]However, non-military missions are not yet operable over Europe. Although hundreds of Reapers and Predators are operational around the world these drones are not cleared for flight in civilian controlled airspace and therefore is restricted from operating over Europe. France and Britain are not allowing Reapers to operate over their homelands. British Reapers that have returned from Afghanistan were dismantled and boxed in storage as they are effectively grounded as long as they remain in Britain.

The RAF was operating 10 Reapers in support of the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Some of these Reapers are now stationed in the Middle East, after withdrawing from Afghanistan last year. These drones are now set to take part in missions against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

France also avoided operating drones over its homeland, deploying the two Reapers it bought from the USA to Niger, where they are now supporting the French operations in neighboring Mali. France will soon increase the number of Reapers stationed in Niger to five, adding three new Reapers to its operational fleet.

On their missions throughout the world those drones are controlled via satellite links from the US Air Force main drone-operating base at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, which is responsible for takeoff and landing and weapon launches. After takeoff drones are handed over to national operating centers in Waddington in the UK, Cognac, in France and Amendola in Italy. Leeuwarden will soon join this network next year.[/ismember]