US Air Force accelerates Reaper successor after 45 combat losses

September 5, 2026 at 12:27 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The U.S. Air Force is accelerating its timeline for a cheaper, more expendable successor to the MQ-9A Reaper after losing at least 45 aircraft in combat since February. Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi, the service's chief modernization officer, said Sept. 3 that the follow-on program, Massed Modular Aircraft, could field at least 180 drones. The fiscal 2031 target of 20 mission-ready aircraft may be pulled forward by about two years.

Key Facts

The U.S. Air Force has lost at least 45 MQ-9A Reapers since military operations against Iran began in February, roughly 25% of the fleet.
Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi signed requirements in May for the Massed Modular Aircraft program, which opened as a Defense Innovation Unit competition on July 7.
The MMA solicitation called for at least 2,800 pounds of payload and an 8,000-nautical-mile one-way ferry range.
Niemi estimated Collaborative Combat Aircraft air vehicles cost near $20 million, while MMA would be about half that.
General Atomics shut down MQ-9A production in 2025, complicating fleet backfill efforts.

Combat Losses

The Washington Post reported Aug. 13, citing three U.S. officials, that at least 45 MQ-9A Reapers had been lost since operations against Iran began in February. A Congressional Research Service Insight updated May 13 cited an April 9 news report of 24 Reapers lost and said it was unclear whether the Pentagon had given Congress an accounting. In May, Lt. Gen. David Tabor told the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland the fleet was down to about 135 aircraft, roughly 54 below the service's 189-aircraft floor. Niemi said Sept. 3 that the Air Force is going through MQ-9As at a rate that is concerning.

Massed Modular Aircraft Program

Niemi signed requirements in May for a cheaper, modular, mass-producible aircraft called Massed Modular Aircraft, or MMA. The program opened as a Defense Innovation Unit competition July 7 with the Air Force as partner, and the solicitation closed July 23. The solicitation asked for a drone that could fly Reaper-class strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and communications-relay missions cheaply enough to absorb losses. Niemi said Sept. 3 the Air Force will probably field at least 180 MMA drones.

Cost and Production Constraints

Niemi put Collaborative Combat Aircraft air vehicles near $20 million and MMA at about half that, Defense Daily reported. An Air Force spokesperson said those figures are for the air vehicle only, not a fully missionized aircraft, according to Breaking Defense. In May, Niemi told senators a Reaper with a full sensor package can cost up to $50 million. General Atomics shut down MQ-9A production in 2025, and Tabor said the service was pursuing a short-term buy of existing MQ-9A airframes in fiscal 2026. Niemi said budget constraints make buying a large number of upgraded MQ-9B SkyGuardians unrealistic.