Posted on 07/11/2026 9:27:46 AM PDT by Red Badger
The proposed Massed Modular Aircraft would not necessarily replace every capability of the MQ-9 Reaper.
The Pentagon wants these low-cost drones to feature modular designs. GA
The U.S. Department of Defense is searching for a new generation of low-cost combat drones that can perform many of the same missions as the MQ-9A Reaper without carrying its hefty price tag.
The step suggests a major shift in military approach as modern battlefields increasingly favor large numbers of affordable, expendable drones over a smaller fleet of expensive aircraft.
Low-cost, long-range unmanned aircraft
For this, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) initiative, inviting defense companies to develop a modular, long-range unmanned aircraft that is significantly cheaper than the MQ-9A Reaper. Unlike traditional military platforms designed for long service lives, these drones are expected to be “attritable”—meaning they are affordable enough that losing some in combat is considered operationally acceptable.
The initiative comes after recent conflicts highlighted the vulnerability of high-value drones operating in contested airspace. Reports indicate that the U.S. lost dozens of MQ-9 Reapers during operations against Iran, resulting in losses estimated at nearly $1 billion. With each MQ-9 Reaper costing roughly $30 million, military planners believe relying solely on such expensive platforms is becoming increasingly difficult to justify against adversaries equipped with modern air-defense systems.
Low-cost drones are capable of overwhelming enemy defenses
According to the DIU, the U.S. military’s dependence on “low-density, high-value” aircraft is no longer sustainable when facing layered and increasingly affordable air-defense networks. Instead, future conflicts may require large numbers of lower-cost drones capable of overwhelming enemy defenses through sheer volume.
The Joint Force seeks a cost-effective, theater-range, massed, and modular Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to provide a flexible, operationally-responsive, risk-tolerant option in the air domain. The ability to employ many aircraft at once ensures a persistent overwhelming credible threat despite inevitable attrition. Massed modular aircraft (MMA) are envisioned as in-theater reconfigurable platforms capable of long-range payload delivery. Crucially, MMA must retain the ability to be outfitted with a variety of payloads, including Full Motion Video (FMV) sensors, to execute missions that the MQ-9A performs today, according to the agency.
The proposed Massed Modular Aircraft would not necessarily replace every capability of the MQ-9 Reaper but would perform many of its intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision-strike missions. The Pentagon wants these drones to feature modular designs, allowing operators to quickly swap sensors, communication equipment, or weapons depending on mission requirements.
Another key requirement is affordability. Rather than investing heavily in a handful of sophisticated drones, the military aims to field larger fleets that can absorb battlefield losses without significantly affecting operational capability.
Recent wars have demonstrated the growing importance of inexpensive unmanned systems. Ukraine’s extensive use of low-cost drones and loitering munitions has shown that relatively cheap platforms can inflict significant damage while forcing opponents to spend costly interceptor missiles and air-defense resources.
Military planners believe this trend will become even more pronounced in future conflicts involving advanced adversaries. Swarms of inexpensive drones could complicate enemy defenses, conduct reconnaissance, carry out strike missions, and support larger operations more efficiently than relying solely on premium unmanned aircraft.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
They’re learning from Ukraine, but Ukraine is leading in true low cost.
💡
If the low cost drones are $2M a piece, then its a fail.
Agree.
(Our defense contractors tend to gold plate many products...)
Trump has American troops in Ukraine being trained by the Ukrainian forces while the Ukrainians open drone making facilities here in the United States.
The Pentagon Is Learning Drone Warfare From Ukraine
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators this week that U.S. military personnel have been sent to Ukraine to study how drones are used in combat.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkirichenko/2026/05/15/the-pentagon-is-learning-drone-warfare-from-ukraine/
U.S. Military Adopts Battle-Tested Ukrainian Hornet Kamikaze Drones
“Several Ukrainian companies have already brought their technology to the U.S. In March, General Cherry, one of Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers, signed a deal to make unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the U.S. alongside American military manufacturer Wilcox Industries.
Ukraine and U.S. move toward landmark drone defense deal as Iran war highlights capabilities, and necessities
“The Pentagon has also invited Ukrainian companies to participate in its Drone Dominance initiative, a $1.1 billion program aimed at identifying drones for U.S. military contracts.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-us-drone-defense-deal-draft-iran-war-capabilities-necessities/
If we’re reading about it, everyone else is working on it too.
Bkmk
THIS is a low-cost drone:
MQ9 at 30 million each,
Dozens to Equal One Billion ?
.
My calculator doesn’t seem to work.
.
How Bout an MQ9 that Launches
Hundreds of Suicide Mini Drones?
.
General Atomics is a little slow
On This.
Oh Well
Effective drones can be built for a few thousand dollars. Every drone doesn’t have to fly 50 miles with a 300 pound package.
GA started with Pred A,Pred B and Pred C
which was side lined.
.
Always thought Your Handheld Drone
Would be the Winning War Fighter !
.
Glad to Watch now outside the Chaos!
Effective drones can be built for a few thousand dollars.Not enough profit margins for kickbacks to the usual suspects. 😠
A friends dad (hp vp) suggested 30 years ago that
Cessna 150/170’c with auto pilot and gps could
deliver packages for cheap.
Ahhh, good point. I left out the kickbacks.
It’ll probably take them three years to figure out how to make them cost $310,000 each while Ukraine jumps two generations ahead, building them out of $138 Temu gas engines.
“inviting defense companies ... Another key requirement is affordability”
Kelly Loeffler and the SBA should be on this, not the big defense companies. There is no way Boeing, Lockheed, etal build anything affordable. They just have too much overhead to justify.
I worked in a startup company that had an ex NASA Administrator on our Board. He brought on a guy who had the final approval authority for Shuttle launches (he wasn’t there for Challenger disaster). Those guys were predicting swarms of low-cost UAVs almost 20 years ago. Listening to them was like looking into the future. Most interesting guys!
Acme Combat Drones Inc. can overwhelm enemy defenses too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.