Pentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 Reaper

The Pentagon is exploring cheaper, expendable drone options to replace the MQ-9 Reaper, following the loss of dozens of Reapers during the Iran war. The Defense Innovation Unit's Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) project aims to develop a drone that can operate in large numbers, absorb heavy losses, and still overwhelm enemy defenses. The current fleet of about 135 Reapers, costing $30 million each, is considered unsustainable against adversaries with layered defenses. The MMA solicitation calls for a drone with a payload of at least 2,800 pounds, an unrefueled combat range of 2,300 nautical miles, and a speed of at least 200 mph. The timeline is ambitious, with full-scale prototype flight testing required within 21 months and an initial operating capability by FY2031. The project reflects lessons from the Ukraine War and the Iran conflict, where defenders exhausted interceptors before attackers ran out of drones.