The MQ-9 has to fly IFR because it cannot fly VFR.....To Fly IFR and perform the entire sortie on instruments - in both IMC and VMC, and to land it on instruments every time, you need an Instrument Rating.
They fly MQ-9s in US National Class A Airspace separated from jumbo jets in LA Centre, et al. They cannot descend below 18k and go VFR like all the Bantaranties...
Keep the questions comming, slowly we will answer them and inform the great 'inquisitive crowd' about some basic facts that make this type of platform unique - and hopefully educate those who might have a desire to one day fly them.
