Heavy losses of MQ-9 Reaper to factor in future plans to divest, replace aircraft

Significant combat losses of MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft will be incorporated into U.S. Air Force planning for the platform's divestiture and replacement, according to Military Times reporting. The Reaper has suffered attrition from adversary air defense systems in contested operating environments, accelerating reassessment of its survivability in high-end conflict. The losses add urgency to the Air Force's search for a successor platform capable of operating in denied airspace, and are expected to influence both the pace of MQ-9 retirement and the requirements for its replacement.