Air Force accelerates cheaper drone successor after Reaper losses

In response to combat losses in Iran, the U.S. Air Force is fast‑tracking a cheaper, modular successor to the MQ‑9A Reaper—Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA)—with a target of about 180 air vehicles featuring ~2,800 lb payloads and ~8,000 nm ferry range, at roughly $10 million per air vehicle; backfill will use existing MQ‑9As in 2026 due to budget constraints, while General Atomics’ Wildfire designs compete and MMA concept refinement awards are anticipated in early FY2027, though no firm schedule has been announced.