Could the Lightweight ‘K1000ULE’ Drone Take the Place of the MQ-9 Reaper?

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The K1000ULE drone can spend days in the air at a time, and costs less than most of the missiles that could shoot it down.

The Air Force is buying up to $270 million worth of K1000ULE drones under a new US Air Force contract.

The new contract was first announced in a press release last week by Kraus Hamdani, the California-based aerospace manufacturer that builds the K1000ULE. It was not initially clear how many of the aircraft were being sought as part of the tender.

During Operation Epic Fury—recognizing the realities of high drone attrition and the need for cheaper ISR in modern conflicts—the Pentagon is shifting towards low-cost, persistent, survivable, and attritable drone systems. 

About the K100ULE Drone

Year Introduced: Early 2020s

Number Built: Unknown

Wingspan: 16–20 ft (4.9–6.1 m), depending on variant

Weight: 42.5 lb (19.3 kg)

Engines: Two propeller engines

Top Speed: 46 mph (74 km/h)

Range: Unknown; ~75 hrs endurance

Service........

© The National Interest