First KLu Reapers will go to Hato
In February 2022, the first Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) MQ-9A Reapers will be delivered to Hato airport at Curaçao in the Caribbean.
According to information provided today by the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD), the KLu will have two ground stations and four MQ-9A Reaper Unmanned (Combat) Aerial Systems (UCAS) operational at Hato. The other two ground stations will be delivered to Leeuwarden air base (Netherlands).
The KLu will be testing the Reaper at Curaçao in the unarmed version for the time being. The aircraft will operate from the US FOL (Forward Operating Location) at Hato. It has not been reported how long the Reapers will stay at Curaçao and when they will be transferred to Leeuwarden.
On 7 July 2021, the first KLu MQ-9A (serial M-001) was presented during a roll-out ceremony at the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) headquarters in Poway (CA).
Photo by Dutch MoD