US Air Force seeks cheaper drones after losing over a quarter of MQ-9 fleet
More than 25% of the US Air Force's General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper fleet has been lost in the conflict with Iran, prompting a search for smaller, lower-cost intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft, including a Polish hybrid-electric design.
The US Air Force has lost more than a quarter of its fleet of General Atomics-built MQ-9 Reaper drones during the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to an account of the losses. That rate of attrition has pushed the service to look for a smaller and cheaper aircraft to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
One option under consideration is a hybrid-electric drone built by a relatively little-known Polish manufacturer. The Air Force is described as moving quickly to acquire such aircraft.
The MQ-9 has been a central element of Pentagon combat operations in Iran and other theatres. Air Force Chief of Staff Kenneth Wilsbach addressed the situation, according to the same account, though further details of his remarks were not immediately available in the source material.
Sources
- theaircurrent.comUnsustainable losses of MQ-9 Reaper fleet spur U.S. Air Force to search for cheaper alternatives