- The Pentagon seeks an affordable drone capable of replacing many MQ-9 Reaper missions
- Reaper drones hit Iran hard and losses force demand for lower-cost unmanned combat aircraft
- New aircraft must combine long range with substantial cargo capacity
The US Air Force is examining a lower-cost drone concept after losing “dozens” of MQ-9 Reaper drones during the recent conflict involving Iran.
Those losses have intensified concerns about reliance on expensive aircraft in environments where increasingly affordable air defenses can destroy them.
With approximately 135 Reapers in service and each drone costing around $30 million, officials are increasingly questioning whether current loss rates remain sustainable.
The Pentagon seeks a lower-cost, long-range, high-payload drone
Instead of pursuing a more advanced version of the MQ-9, defense planners are exploring a drone intended for larger-scale deployment.
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking proposals for a massive modular aircraft, or MMA, capable of performing many missions currently assigned to the Reaper.
According to the request, the Pentagon believes the reliance on “exquisite” aircraft costing more than $30 million is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
The concept favors quantity over capability, allowing forces to continue operating even after suffering substantial attrition on the battlefield.
Unlike many smaller drones commonly associated with swarm operations, the proposed aircraft would retain significant range and payload capacity.
The request calls for a payload of at least 2,800 pounds, compared to the roughly 3,800 pounds carried by the MQ-9.
Requirements also include a non-refueling combat radius of at least 2,300 nautical miles and a one-way transfer distance greater than 8,000 nautical miles.
The drone must travel at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour while also being able to operate from 6,000-foot runways and makeshift landing strips.
Defense planners also want enough onboard power and cooling capacity to support various internal and external mission equipment.
The specifications mention 25 kW of available electrical power and 5 kW of cooling capacity for future mission systems.
Ambitious timeline targets operational capacity by 2031
The proposal places considerable emphasis on autonomy, allowing a single operator to monitor multiple aircraft simultaneously during complex missions.
While no specific dimensions were included, performance requirements indicate an aircraft broadly comparable in size to the MQ-9.
Officials have also not disclosed a preferred acquisition price, although expectations suggest a figure substantially below the Reaper’s estimated $30 million cost.
The schedule remains aggressive, with full-scale prototype flight testing expected within 21 months of contract award.
Initial operational capability is planned for fiscal year 2031, with 20 mission-ready aircraft delivered to an operational unit.
Recent combat experiences appear to have influenced the development of the concept, particularly situations where defenders exhausted interceptors before attackers exhausted drones.
The request argues that maintaining continuous MMA operations could pressure opponents to consume expensive defensive missiles at an unsustainable rate.
“Maintaining a constant MMA presence in the air to deliver weapons, gather intelligence, conduct electronic warfare missions or relay communications will force the adversary to remain on the defensive,” the Defense Innovation Unit stated.
Via Defense News
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