- Pentagon seeks affordable drone capable of replacing many MQ-9 Reaper missions
- Reaper drones hit Iran hard and their losses bolster demand for cheaper unmanned fighter jets
- New planes must combine a long range with a large payload capacity
The US Air Force is exploring a cheaper unmanned aircraft concept after losing “dozens” of MQ-9 Reaper drones in the recent conflict involving Iran.
These losses have intensified concerns about relying on expensive aircraft in environments where increasingly affordable air defenses can destroy them.
With about 135 Reapers in service and each drone costing about $30 million, officials are increasingly questioning whether current casualty rates remain sustainable.
Pentagon seeks less expensive drone with long range and large payload
Rather than pursuing a more advanced version of the MQ-9, defense planners are studying a drone for larger-scale deployment.
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking proposals for a massed modular aircraft, or MMA, capable of performing many of the missions currently assigned to the Reaper.
According to the solicitation, the Pentagon believes that reliance on “exquisite” aircraft costing more than $30 million is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
The concept emphasizes quantity over capacity, allowing forces to continue operating even after suffering significant attrition on the battlefield.
Unlike many smaller drones typically associated with swarm operations, the proposed aircraft would retain significant range and transport capability.
The tender calls for a payload of at least 2,800 pounds, compared to about 3,800 pounds carried by the MQ-9.
The requirements also include an unrefueled combat radius of at least 2,300 nautical miles and a one-way transfer distance exceeding 8,000 nautical miles.
The drone must travel at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour while remaining capable of operating from 6,000-foot runways and improvised landing strips.
Defense planners also want to have sufficient 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 timetable targets operational capability by 2031
The proposal places a significant emphasis on autonomy, allowing a single operator to supervise multiple aircraft simultaneously during complex missions.
Although no specific dimensions were included, performance requirements indicate an aircraft broadly comparable in size to the MQ-9.
Officials also have not disclosed a preferred purchase price, although expectations suggest a figure significantly lower than the Reaper’s estimated $30 million cost.
The schedule remains tight, 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 operating unit.
Recent combat experiences appear to have influenced the development of the concept, particularly in situations where the defenders exhausted the interceptors before the attackers exhausted the drones.
The solicitation argues that maintaining continued MMA operations could push adversaries to consume costly defensive missiles at unsustainable rates.
“Maintaining a constant MMA aerial presence to launch weapons, gather intelligence, conduct electronic warfare missions or relay communications will force an adversary to remain on the defensive,” the Defense Innovation Unit said.
Via Defense News
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