US Air Force Completes First Automated MQ-9 Landing, Takeoff Written 19 September 2018

Airforce Technology reports that the US Air Force “successfully completed the first automated landing and take-off” of an MQ-9 Block 5 UAV. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is testing automatic take-off and landing capability that will increase the UAV’s suitability for Air Force missions. Development of the MQ-9’s automatic take-off and landing capability is expected to be completed later this year. According to GA-ASI Aircraft Systems President David Alexander, the “new, all-weather capability greatly increases the autonomy, flexibility, combat effectiveness and safety of the MQ-9 Reaper for the USAF.” Alexander added that newly-added “automation will reduce the deployment burden of the warfighter and expand the scope of missions that can be flown by Air Force MQ-9s.” 
More Info (Air Force Technology)