Marines' reaper drone gains survival edge with RDESS tech
A photo of the MQ-9A Reaper drone belonging to the Marines, equipped with the intriguing RDESS electronic warfare module, has surfaced online. We explain why it is a crucial aspect of today's battlefield.
As highlighted by the portal The Warzone, the United States Marine Corps joined the ranks of MQ-9A Reaper drone users relatively late. Their history with these drones dates back to 2018 when they used two borrowed units.
They acquired two of their own only in 2020, with the ultimate plan to develop 25 drones by 2025. However, these drones are very vulnerable to anti-aircraft systems, as even Houthi rebels from Yemen have been able to shoot them down, let alone the Chinese, who are a potential adversary for the US Navy and Marines under the Department of the Navy.
For this reason, it is no surprise that the Americans decided to equip their drones with electronic warfare pods, likely based on the AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II used on helicopters. We saw one during the MSPO 2022 fair, shown alongside the AH-1Z Viper helicopter. The Marines pilots remained almost silent, commenting briefly that it is invaluable in performing missions.
From the limited information available, it was known that the AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II can "actively mask" the object's signature to which it is mounted through the DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory) technique or similar. This involves capturing the enemy radar signal, analysing it, and then retransmitting an altered signal so that nothing appears on the enemy radar. This is possible because, for the radar to work, it must operate at frequencies distinguishable from the background.
RDESS pod - ensuring "Reapers" survival on the modern battlefield
At least identical properties are expected from the RDESS, according to the statements of Gen. Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marines, for the Brookings Institution on 2 July 2024. "It can mimic things that are sent to it that it detects, turn it around and send it back. So it becomes a hole, it becomes a black hole, it becomes mostly undetectable."
In its information about the RDESS pod, General Atomics also mentions the ability to detect radar signals or electronic warfare systems and geolocate them. This means it can send these signals to the command in real-time, which can target such locations with cruise missiles or perform airstrikes using AGM-88E AARGM anti-radar missiles. These missiles advance the older AGM-88 HARM missile that has proven effective in Ukraine.
The American Marines are well known for efficiently managing their budget and upgrading older systems to perform tasks effectively on the constantly evolving battlefield. Thanks to the RDESS modules, the "Reapers" will not just be targets in combat with an equal adversary.
