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Air Force Approves Requirements for New Medium-Altitude Drone to Replace MQ-9 Reaper
Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi signed out new requirements on Monday for an attritable unmanned aircraft to succeed the MQ-9 Reaper, which has been in service since 2007. The platform must use open architectures, support mass production and tolerate higher attrition rates than the current system that can cost up to $50 million per copy.
May 13, 11:17 AM·2m read2 sources
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U.S. Air Force has approved requirements for a new medium-altitude long-endurance drone to replace the MQ-9 Reaper fleet. Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi, the military deputy for Air Force Futures, signed out the requirements document on Monday.
He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that the new unmanned aircraft must consist of open architectures, be easily mass produced and have a higher tolerance for attrition. The MQ-9 Reaper has been in service since 2007. An MQ-9 Reaper, depending on sensors, can cost up to $50 million a copy.
The basic Reaper can fly for more than 20 hours unarmed or more than 12 hours with weapons, while the MQ-9B version with extended wingspan can fly for more than 40 hours. The new drone is designed to be used in a more attritable way and stresses being attritable rather than survivable. Maj.
Gen. Christopher Niemi said improvements in technology since the MQ-9 was developed allow a new drone to be more flexible using open architectures. Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi said modern production methods mean the new drone will be easier and cheaper to produce in mass numbers.
"The MQ-9 is serving us well over in the conflict that’s ongoing in the Middle East. The MQ-9 successor is intended as a medium-altitude long-endurance system for ISR and strike missions.
The new requirements document for an MQ-9 replacement was approved, as first reported by Aviation Week. At least 24 Air Force Reapers were destroyed during the war with Iran earlier in 2026. The Air Force plans to buy back some of the Reaper losses from the war with Iran.
