US Marine Corps Orders Knox-5 Processors for MQ-9B Reapers to Boost Edge Computing
Updated
Updated · Breaking Defense · May 27
US Marine Corps Orders Knox-5 Processors for MQ-9B Reapers to Boost Edge Computing
1 articles · Updated · Breaking Defense · May 27
Earlier this year, the Marine Corps ordered Ultra I&C’s Knox-5 processors for MQ-9B Reapers to speed mission-critical data processing on the unmanned aircraft.
The buy targets a core bottleneck in legacy mission systems: fixed internal hardware that slows software upgrades, autonomy tools, AI applications and new communications links at the tactical edge.
Knox-5 uses a flexible backplane and MOSA/SOSA-aligned commercial cards, letting operators upgrade processing, waveforms and mission applications in place without replacing chassis or re-cabling aircraft.
Ultra says that architecture also cuts size, weight and power demands by consolidating functions that often require multiple boxes, freeing room for sensors and weapons while lowering fuel and logistics burdens.
The company is pitching the same open, multi-vendor design across air, land and maritime platforms as a way to break vendor lock and speed field upgrades across the defense industrial base.
How does Knox's open architecture guard against cyber threats targeting standardized military hardware?
With hardware upgrades now faster, will slow software certification become the new military bottleneck?
How will edge AI capabilities change battlefield autonomy when communications are down?
In January 2026, the U.S. Marine Corps announced a pivotal contract to integrate the advanced Knox-5 processor into its MQ-9B Reaper fleet. This upgrade marks a major step forward, enhancing the drones’ onboard processing power and modularity. With Knox-5, the MQ-9B Reapers can process large amounts of data directly on the aircraft, boosting their mission adaptability and keeping them at the forefront of modern warfare. The new processor brings a substantial leap in operational capabilities, enabling the Reapers to respond faster and more effectively in dynamic battlefield environments.