주한미공군, 군산기지에서 MQ-9 리퍼 공개

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When Computers Went To Sea | 군산 소속 미공군 MQ-9B가 서해상에 추락 - Daum 카페

군산 소속 미공군 MQ-9B가 서해상에 추락

주한미공군이 군산기지 내 배치된 MQ-9B 리퍼의 사진을 공개했네요. 

지난 11월 24일 추락한 리퍼는 통신장애로 말을 안 들어 해상에 의도적으로 추락시켰고, 이미 인양했다고 합니다. 

미 공군, 군산 공군기지에서 MQ-9 드론 공개
뉴스 / 항공
작성: Colton Jones
2026년 1월 14일
수정일: 2026년 1월 14일

2026년 1월 13일, 대한민국 군산 공군기지의 MQ-9 리퍼. (Landon Gunsauls 촬영)

핵심 요점
미 공군은 1월 13일 군산 공군기지에서 제431원정정찰비행대 소속 MQ-9 리퍼 사진을 공개하며, 한국에서의 지속적인 작전을 강조했다.
주한미군은 이전에 2025년 11월 통신 장애 이후 또 다른 MQ-9가 의도적으로 격추됐다고 확인했으며, 잔해는 이후 말도 인근에서 회수됐다.

미 공군 인원은 1월 13일 제431원정정찰비행대 소속 MQ-9 리퍼의 사진을 공개했으며, 사진에는 대한민국 군산 공군기지의 셸터 내부에 배치된 항공기가 보인다. 공군은 이 비행대의 존재가 한반도 안보에 대한 미국의 헌신을 강화하고, 위협과 새로운 상황에 대응하기 위한 합동 능력을 제공한다고 밝혔다.

공군에 따르면, 제431원정정찰비행대는 지역에서의 지속적인 상황 인식을 유지하기 위한 미군 노력의 일환으로 군산에서 MQ-9 항공기를 운용한다. 공군은 이 항공기가 주한미군을 위한 정찰, 감시, 대응 임무를 지원한다고 밝혔다. 기지에 있는 MQ-9는 지역 방위 태세를 지원하기 위해 계속 진행 중인 순환 배치의 일부다.

MQ-9 리퍼는 정보 수집, 표적 추적, 타격 임무에 사용되는 원격 조종 항공기다. 이는 첨단 센서, 지상통제 인터페이스, 장거리 작전을 위한 위성 통신을 갖추고 있다. 이 플랫폼은 한반도의 미군이 미군과 한국군 간 연합 계획을 지원하는 장시간 정찰 임무를 수행할 수 있게 한다.

이번 새 이미지 공개는 작년 말 해당 지역에 배속된 또 다른 MQ-9와 관련해 발생한 일련의 기술적 문제 이후 나온 것이다. 2025년 11월, 미군은 말도리 섬 인근에서의 일상 임무 중 고장이 발생한 뒤 한국 서해상에서 자국의 MQ-9 항공기 1대를 격추했다. 현지 보도는 드론과 지상 통제소 간 통신 장애를, 원격 조종 기능의 교란을 포함해, 언급했다.

한국 언론은 해당 드론이 사건 중 반복적으로 명령 상실을 겪었다고 밝혔다. 미군 인원에 따르면, MQ-9 승무원은 항공기를 안정시키기 위해 연료 방출을 시작했지만, 고장은 계속됐다. 이후 미군은 통제 불능 상태의 하강이나 잔해가 인구가 있거나 민감한 지역에 떨어질 위험을 피하기 위해 해상에서 통제된 격추를 시행했다. 공군은 이 조치가 공공 안전을 보장하기 위해 필요했다고 설명했다.

2025년 12월, 주한미군은 분실된 항공기의 성공적인 회수를 발표했다. 사령부에 따르면, 미 공군 제8전투비행단은 한국 해군 및 해경과 함께 말도 인근에서 잔해를 찾아 해저에서 잔존물을 인양했다. 회수 작업을 통해 공군은 민감한 구성품을 확보하고, 고장 이후 항공기의 상태를 검토할 수 있었다.

미군 관계자는 격추된 MQ-9가 군산 공군기지에 배속돼 있었으며, 통신 장애를 겪었을 때 일상 임무를 수행 중이었다고 말했다. 관계자는 인명과 육상 기반 시설에 대한 위험을 줄이기 위해 항공기가 물 위로 의도적으로 내려오게 했다고 덧붙였다. 이 성명은 고장의 성격에 대한 추가적인 세부사항은 제공하지 않았다.

작년 사건에도 불구하고, 공군은 주한미군 체계 하에서 미국의 약속의 일환으로 군산 공군기지에서 MQ-9 작전이 계속되고 있다고 밝혔다. 새로 공개된 사진은 한반도에서의 미군 활동에 대한 지속적 보도의 일부로, 감시 및 합동 대비태세 임무에서 항공기의 역할을 강조한다.

MQ-9의 배치는 한반도 주변에서 증가한 미사일 발사와 군사 활동을 포함한 더 넓은 지역 긴장과 연계돼 있다. 미군은 연합 작전을 지원하고 신속 대응 능력을 보장하기 위해 한국에 순환 배치되는 공중 및 지상 부대를 유지하고 있다.

U.S. Air Force displays MQ-9 drone at Kunsan air base

U.S. Air Force displays MQ-9 drone at Kunsan air base

NewsAviation

ByColton Jones

Jan 14, 2026

Modified date: Jan 14, 2026

MQ-9 Reaper at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by Landon Gunsauls)

Key Points

• The U.S. Air Force released a photo of an MQ-9 Reaper from the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base on Jan. 13, underscoring ongoing operations in South Korea.
• U.S. Forces Korea previously confirmed that another MQ-9 was deliberately brought down in November 2025 after a communications failure, with the wreckage later recovered near Maldo Island.

United States Air Force personnel released a photo of an MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron on January 13, showing the aircraft positioned inside a shelter at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The Air Force said the squadron’s presence reinforces U.S. commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula and provides a joint capability to respond to threats and emerging situations.

According to the Air Force, the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron operates MQ-9 aircraft from Kunsan as part of U.S. efforts to maintain persistent awareness in the region. The service stated that the aircraft supports reconnaissance, surveillance, and response missions for United States Forces Korea. The MQ-9 shown at the base is part of a rotational deployment that remains active in support of regional defense posture.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence collection, target tracking, and strike missions. It is equipped with advanced sensors, a ground-control interface, and satellite communications for extended operations. The platform allows U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula to conduct long-endurance reconnaissance missions supporting combined plans between U.S. and South Korean forces.

The publication of the new image comes after a series of technical issues encountered late last year involving another MQ-9 assigned to the region. In November 2025, U.S. forces shot down one of their own MQ-9 aircraft off South Korea’s west coast following a malfunction during a routine mission near Maldo-ri Island. Local reporting described a communications failure between the drone and its ground control station, including disruptions to remote-control functions.

South Korean media stated that the drone experienced repeated command losses during the incident. According to U.S. personnel, the MQ-9 crew initiated fuel dumping in an attempt to stabilize the aircraft, but the malfunction persisted. U.S. forces then carried out a controlled shoot-down over the sea to avoid the risk of an uncontrolled descent or debris falling in populated or sensitive areas. The Air Force described the action as necessary to ensure public safety.

In December 2025, U.S. Forces Korea announced the successful recovery of the lost aircraft. According to the command, the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing, working alongside the South Korean Navy and Coast Guard, located the wreckage near Maldo Island and lifted the remains from the seabed. The recovery operation allowed the service to secure sensitive components and review the aircraft’s condition following the malfunction.

A U.S. military official said the downed MQ-9 had been assigned to Kunsan Air Base and was conducting a routine mission when it experienced the communications failure. The official noted that the aircraft was deliberately brought down over water to reduce risk to people and infrastructure on land. The statement provided no additional detail on the nature of the malfunction.

Despite last year’s incident, the Air Force stated that MQ-9 operations continue at Kunsan Air Base as part of U.S. commitments under United States Forces Korea. The newly released photo is part of ongoing coverage of U.S. activities on the peninsula, highlighting the aircraft’s role in surveillance and joint readiness missions.

The MQ-9’s deployment remains tied to wider regional tensions, including increased missile launches and military activities around the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. military maintains rotational air and ground units in South Korea to support combined operations and ensure rapid response capabilities.