US Air Force Speeds Reaper Successor Timeline After Iran Losses

USAF Wants MQ-9 Reaper Successor At A Fraction Of The Cost At $10M Each

The USAF has aggressive cost and schedule goals for new drones to succeed the MQ-9 fleet that has suffered major losses.

Air Force accelerates MQ-9 replacement after heavy wartime attrition

The U.S. Air Force is moving faster on the Massed Modular Aircraft program after losing 45 MQ-9A Reapers in Operation Epic Fury, roughly a quarter of the fleet by mid-August. Officials now want at least 180 lower-cost aircraft at about $10 million per...

US Air Force speeds Reaper successor timeline after Iran losses

The Air Force is accelerating its timeline for a cheaper, more expendable successor to the MQ-9A Reaper after combat losses.

Air Force Speeds Up Low-Cost Drone Program after MQ-9 Losses

The Air Force is accelerating its plans to field an MQ-9A replacement in the wake of heavy Reaper losses in operations against Iran, top officials said Sept. 3, and they’re targeting a price point of just $10 million per aircraft. The post Air Force Speeding Up New Low-Cost Drone Program after Heavy MQ-9 Losses Against Iran appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Air Force moves to accelerate effort to replace MQ-9 Reaper after combat losses in Iran war

The loss of dozens of MQ-9A Reapers during Operation Epic Fury has prompted the Air Force to rethink its plans to replace the drone, with officials now looking to field a cheaper successor in large numbers much more quickly.

After ‘concerning’ losses, Air Force pushes to replace Reaper faster

“There’s no doubt if we try and pursue the exact same approach that we had with things like the MQ-9, we’re going to get something that costs about the same as an MQ-9,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi.