The US Navy’s MQ-9 Reaper test squadron at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland has received the first SkyTower II (STII) pod in preparation for the system’s initial operational capability (IOC) next year, US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced on 10 March 2025.
Air Test & Evaluation Squadron Two Four (UX-24) loaded the new pod onto a Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 25 February and conducted initial ‘power on’ checks: the first step in integrating the new capability onto the aircraft.
“The program is excited to deliver SkyTower II for testing, marking a major milestone in our development journey,” Captain Dennis Monagle, Multi-Mission Tactical UAS programme manager, was quoted as saying in a NAVAIR press release. “Over the past two years we’ve partnered with GALT, a small business prime vendor, to rapidly develop this unique capability using middle-tier acquisition, accelerating innovation for the warfighter. With robust system and integration testing now underway, we remain on track to achieve initial operating capability this year, delivering critical capability to the US Marine Corps and the joint forces.”
STII is an airborne network extension pod that enhances cross-domain communication capabilities and links communications between disparate forces. It provides tactically relevant operational communications and data-sharing capabilities with many forces in support of the MQ-9 Reapers’ operational mission.
UX-24 also completed a fit check of the MQ-9 in the large anechoic chamber at NAS Patuxent River in late February. The team conducted a number of tests and hoisted the aircraft for the first time as a risk reduction for upcoming programme efforts. The tests proved the ability to safely hang the aircraft while providing power, cooling and a satellite link with the aircraft for command, control and communications.
Over the next several months, UX-24 will conduct final test events before delivering the upgraded MQ-9s to the fleet.
“The team has been able to accomplish a lot of work in a very compressed timeline by developing and executing these test plans for the chamber event and STII testing,” said Commander Lauren Lawson, MQ-9 government flight test director. “The dedication shown and technical challenges they’ve overcome to conduct this critical testing to help develop the best product possible to support the marines is truly commendable.”
The US Marine Corps’ third UAV squadron, VMU-3, is currently flying MQ-9s in theatre today will be the first to deploy with the STII system in 2026.
The MQ-9 Reaper provides marines with a long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability in support of maritime domain awareness and expeditionary operations in contested environments.
