The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Nov. 18 of a possible foreign military sale to Italy of two unarmed MQ-9 remotely piloted vehicles, one ground control station, and all associated equipment and support services. The total value of this potential deal is $63 million, said DSCA in a release Nov. 19. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this sale, DSCA noted. Italy already operates MQ-1 Predators, It would become the second US ally, after Britain, to acquire the Reaper. Britain has already used MQ-9s in Afghanistan. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems builds the Reaper, which the US Air Force already operates in Afghanistan and Iraq (see above). Raytheon and General Atomics supply its sensors.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
