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MQ-9 Reaper vs Wing Loong II: how to tell them apart

Two military drones that are easy to mix up at a glance. Here is what tells them apart.

MQ-9 Reaper, drone from USA

MQ-9 Reaper

Drone, USA. In service since 2007

What gives it away

Bulbous nose, long straight wing, V-tail with a fin below and a pusher propeller at the rear.

Used by

USA, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karissa Dick, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Wing Loong II

Drone, China. In service since 2017

What gives it away

Reaper-like drone with a bulbous nose, a long straight wing with winglets, a V-tail and a rear pusher propeller.

Used by

China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and others

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